Contents
Crack is a crystalline form of cocaine, which usually comes in the form of a powder. It is usually found in solid blocks or crystals that vary in color from yellow to pale pink or white. The popularity of crack, in part, is due to its relatively low cost on the black market, in addition to its fast and powerful action..
Due to the high cost of cocaine, it has been considered a "rich man's drug." Crack, by contrast, is sold at such low prices that even teenagers can afford to buy it, at first. The truth is that once a person is addicted, spending skyrockets in direct proportion to the increasing amount needed to sustain the habit..
Crack is consumed after heating and smoking. It is so named because it makes a cracking or popping sound when heated.
The appearance of this drug dates back to 1985, when it was first cited in a New York Times article. Apparently the traffickers created it to be able to have a product with low costs and that also made their consumers addicted in a very short time.
Crack is actually the most potent form of cocaine, which is why it is also the most dangerous..
Crack is a psychoactive drug that acts as a powerful stimulant, the consumption of this substance can produce a rapid sensation of euphoria. Its stimulating effect on the body is the product of the acceleration of various mental and physical processes, which serves to increase energy, attention and concentration..
When smoking cocaine, its effects are almost immediate, because the drug is easily absorbed from the lungs into the bloodstream, where it travels rapidly throughout the body and brain..
Compared to traditional cocaine, the cycle of crack abuse increases the risk of tolerance, dependence and addiction.
Smoking crack allows, as we have already said, that the effects reach the brain more quickly, but its duration is much shorter, about fifteen minutes. For this reason, due to the short-lived pleasant effects, addiction can develop even more quickly, a person can become addicted even after their first time taking Crack..
The effects of crack include:
Crack is a highly dangerous substance. It is often unlikely that someone will use crack in a casual or recreational way for a significant duration, due to its highly addictive nature. Any use of crack must be taken seriously by the user and those around him. Symptoms of crack abuse can be both physical and psychological.
Consumers who smoke crack experience extreme euphoria. Everything they experience seems more intense and they are often overly alert and energetic. The reward centers of the brain are activated by the stimulation of crack, thus reinforcing the continued use of this drug.
When the pleasant effects wear off, the user feels the need to smoke more due to agitation, restlessness, irritability and even hallucinations.
Crack causes short and intense highs, but these are followed by other opposite or opposite effects, such as severe depression, nervousness, and an extreme desire to use more of the drug. People who use it often do not eat or sleep properly. They may experience a large increase in heart rate, muscle spasms, and seizures. The drug can cause paranoid delusions, anger, hostility and anxiety.
Regardless of how much of the drug is used or how often, crack increases the risk of the user experiencing a heart attack, stroke, seizure, or breathing problems, any of which can lead to sudden death..
Crack is often mixed with other substances that create toxic gases when burned. Since crack smoke does not linger for long, consumer tubes are generally very short. This often causes the lips to be cut and what are known as blisters or "crack lip" appear, as users keep the tube very hot pressed against their lips..
Because it is smoked, the effects of cocaine are more immediate and more intense than that of powdered cocaine, generating:
In addition to the usual risks associated with cocaine use, crack users can experience serious respiratory problems, including coughing, shortness of breath, lung damage, and bleeding..
The long-term effects of crack use include serious damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys. Users are also more likely to have infectious diseases.
Continued daily use leads to sleep deprivation and loss of appetite, leading to malnutrition. Smoking crack can also lead to aggressive and paranoid behavior.
Because cocaine interferes with the way the brain processes chemicals, it takes more and more of the drug to feel "normal." Those who become addicted to cocaine (as with most other drugs) lose interest in other areas of life.
While the drug is not being used it causes severe depression, which is more intense after each use. This can be so serious that the addict can do almost anything to get more of the drug, including murder. When they can't get crack, the depression can be so intense that it can lead to suicide..
It also causes permanent damage to blood vessels in the ear and brain, and high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death..
Treatment for crack abuse usually begins with detoxification. This is a controlled crack withdrawal that is usually done in a detox center. Doctors are able to control severe physical withdrawal symptoms. But patients also experience intense psychological effects, such as mood swings, agitation, and anxiety during the waiting time. This time period varies depending on the amount and timing of the abuse. Withdrawal may be more serious if the patient has been using high-dose crack for a long time. Some users may experience what is known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome, in which symptoms can extend well beyond the acute detox phase, requiring mental health treatment and close monitoring..
After completing detoxification, many patients move to a residential rehab center or other form of structured addiction treatment. At these times, treatment focuses on the psychological aspects of addiction, and patients receive individual and group therapy. These programs can last from 30 days to 1 year.
Yet No Comments