Crack cocaine could be obtained for the same price at purities of around 80 percent. People used to taking cocaine would take an equivalent amount of crack and overdose, and hospital admissions due to cocaine overdose doubled in a year. Crack could also be smoked much more easily, requiring a temperature of only 194°F to vaporize. Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack, is a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked. Crack offers a short but intense high to smokers. The Manual of Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment calls it the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack cocaine is commonly used as a recreational drug.
A Complete History of Crack Cocaine March 28, 2018 -0 Comments Crack cocaine, commonly shortened to crack, is a free base version of – a drug that has been used in various forms in South America for centuries. Crack cocaine was first introduced to the United States in the early 1980s, going on to become an epidemic with millions of users and contributing to over 25,000 hospitalizations a year throughout the 80s and early 90s. Today, crack is less of a problem, but it still exists, and is just as dangerous today as it was then. This complete history of crack cocaine will help you to understand what the drug is, where it comes from, and why it is still engrained in some urban neighborhoods. What is Crack Cocaine is made from the leaves of the Coca plant, which has been used as a stimulant and recreational drug in Peru since ancient times. The drug was first isolated to create cocaine during the 1860s, and, at first believed to be harmless, was sold as a common household product, and was not regulated until the and not banned until 1922.
By 1961, the United States had recognized that cocaine was a serious problem, causing hospitalizations and deaths across the country, but usage continued to rise. The 1970s cocaine epidemic gave rise to increased production throughout South America, leading to a massive influx of product and falling prices. Faced with the prospect of losing money, drug dealers began converting cocaine powder into crack cocaine, a crystalized and much more potent version of the drug. This free-base cocaine provides a shorter but more intense high than the original cocaine powder, and during the height of the crack cocaine ‘epidemic’ could be purchased for as little as about $2.50 per gram (about $6 adjusted for inflation). This stronger cocaine is made by purifying powder through a chemical process. It can then be sold in smaller quantities, and can be smoked. A Manufactured Epidemic While cocaine use was rampant throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, most data shows that crack was not popularized.
Jumping on the opportunity to create a scare and therefore views, major news channels manufactured information about an epidemic, effectively mass-marketing a newer, stronger, and far more dangerous form of an already potent drug. The result was an epidemic, with usage rapidly spreading across the United States.
By 1984 an estimated 4.5-5.5 million Americans were regularly using crack – many of whom were poor and underprivileged teens and young persons in urban areas. Cocaine, which was an expensive commodity, was unavailable to this demographic, but crack, which was available in smaller and stronger quantities, was cheap and easy to get. By 1986 the cocaine related emergency room visits rose by 110% to 55,200. Just a year later, that number would almost double again, rising to 94,000. A Disproportionate Impact on Poverty Stricken Neighborhoods Crack cocaine massively impacted urban communities, quickly hitting and decimating poverty-stricken areas. During the peak years of the crack cocaine epidemic, the drug was primarily distributed in inner-city neighborhoods, where dealers could easily sell quickly at a minimum price. This resulted in heavy distribution to families and households already vulnerable to addiction through stress and poverty and in turn generated a more than doubled homicide rate among impoverished black males aged 14-24, and a significantly increased crime rate.
Often addicted, many users would turn to selling, further spreading crack into their communities. With an economic recession, poor prospects, and crack cocaine presented as an ‘easy’ way to make money – the drug became entrenched in poor neighborhoods, becoming influential in pop culture and dramatically affecting gang violence in black and Latino neighborhoods. Government Crackdown By 1986, the U.S. Government had recognized the immense danger and impact of crack cocaine. Congress responded, passing a disparity versus powder cocaine, with a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison for possessing 5 grams of crack cocaine. By the early 1990s, the police had become more militarized, and had begun unfairly arresting blacks for crack possession. By the mid 1990s the crack epidemic eased off, but crack remained and is still sold today, often at a quarter or less of the price of cocaine.
Crack Side Effects Crack cocaine causes numerous negative side-effects, all of which can dramatically harm the users mental and physical health. The most common are overdose and harm to the lungs from smoking, resulting in crack lung, and over 25,000 emergency room visits each year.
Crack Lung – Crack lung is the colloquial term for the respiratory difficulties caused by smoking crack. Users can have difficulty breathing, may develop pneumonia, may develop hemorrhaging, and may develop a pulmonary edema. This can be fatal. Adulterants – Most crack cocaine is adulterated to increase the weight of the drug and therefore the dealer’s profits.
Some adulterants are relatively harmless such as milk powder and sugar others can be fatal over time, including caffeine, lidocaine, paracetamol, amphetamine, and strychnine. Burns – Crack cocaine smoke must be inhaled rapidly to prevent it losing potency, necessitating a very short pipe. Most use short glass pipes, which get very hot and that can burn the hands and lips. Paranoia and Anxiety – Over time, most crack users develop paranoia and anxiety, which can extend to delusional.
Very heavy and frequent users eventually develop delusional parasitosis, where they experience the feeling of bugs or insects crawling under the skin. This delusion and paranoia can lead to dangerous and erratic behavior.
This is exacerbated by the fact that crack cocaine can keep users awake for days at a time, increasing natural paranoia and anxiety. Substance Dependence – Crack is a stronger and more potent form of cocaine and is therefore more often abused than other forms of the drug. While sociologists argue as to whether this is because crack is more addictive or because those prone to addiction or those who are dependent are drawn to the stronger version, many crack cocaine users suffer from addiction.
Crack cocaine addiction is often characterized by very heavy use, paranoia and anxiety, health problems or consistent flu symptoms, tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and bizarre behavior. Overdose – Crack cocaine is extremely strong but short-lasting.
The desired effects can last as little as 15 minutes, leading many users to take hit after hit, which can lead to progressively lower highs and increased usage. This can result in a binge or consuming much more crack cocaine than is safe. At a dose of several hundred mg of pure crack cocaine, users will go into a toxic reaction resembling amphetamine poisoning, which can be fatal. Bizarre and extremely erratic behavior are the norm in this situation, as some people experience psychotic breakdowns and experience auditory and visual hallucinations.
This can be extremely dangerous, especially in urban environments, where users may accidentally put themselves in harm’s way. If you or a loved one is using crack cocaine, there is help. A substance abuse is a treatable disorder and a treatment center can give you the help you need to move past the physical dependence with medically supported detox as well as medical and psychological care to repair the damage done to you by substance abuse. A includes personalized care with behavioral therapy, stress management, and group therapy to help you move past the underlying causes of addiction, learn to cope with and handle cravings and triggers, and develop the skills you need to live a happy and drug free life.
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. What Is Crack Withdrawal? Crack is a form of cocaine that is processed and sold as a rock crystal. Users heat the crystals and then inhale the smoke or vapor. 1, and quitting is difficult due to withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Crack withdrawal is believed to be more severe and longer-lasting than withdrawal from powdered cocaine that is snorted. 6 Withdrawal Symptoms The most common symptoms of crack withdrawal include:. Depression. Sleep disturbances.
Increased appetite. Slow thinking. 1 Crack withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening in most cases. But they are difficult to deal with alone. In addition, the longer a person has used crack, the more difficult the withdrawal process is likely to be. Further, any concurrent abuse of other drugs and the overall health and age of the crack user may affect the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Risks of Withdrawal.
Depression. People going through crack withdrawal can experience severe depression. There is increased risk of suicide when someone is unable to stop using alone. 2. Cravings and relapse. The physical symptoms of crack withdrawal are often relatively mild, but a person in withdrawal. A rapid return to crack use, as well as an overdose, is possible with unmonitored detox.
One of the most beneficial factors of treatment in a detox or treatment program is that the program prevents people from using crack. Medical complications. Some people in detox experience heart problems or seizures. 3 Many withdrawing from crack also experience irritability, fatigue, and headaches. Withdrawal Timeline Crack withdrawal may occur in the following stages:.
Stage 1: The crash as the person in withdrawal shows symptoms of irritability, agitation, increased appetite, insomnia, depressed feelings, and lethargy which may continue for several days. Stage 2: Withdrawal lasting up to about 10 weeks, with a person having continued lethargy, strong cravings, irritability, and poor concentration. Stage 3: Extinction in which a person may have intermittent cravings to use crack and ongoing issues with depressed moods.
4 Symptoms can develop relatively quickly after the last dose. For most people in withdrawal from crack cocaine, the effects go away after a few days. However, in some people the symptoms can persist for 3 to 4 weeks.
3 Some people in recovery from crack addiction experience longer-term problems in their ability to experience pleasure, which can persist for a long time after withdrawal is completed. 3 Causes of Withdrawal.
Crack use alters chemical behavior throughout the central nervous system. In particular, crack (as well as other forms of cocaine) increases the activity of dopamine, a chemical in the brain related to feelings of pleasure and a sense of reward. People who use crack experience increased energy, increased alertness, and feelings of elation.
The brains of those who frequently use crack adapt to the flood of dopamine produced by the drug, and they quickly require more and more of the drug to experience the same high as before. People who grow dependent on the drug may experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug wears off. At this point, they may continue to take the drug to experience relief from these effects or to postpone their onset. 1 Treatment for Withdrawal Crack users are often more difficult to treat than cocaine users. Their addictions are usually severe by the time they enter a rehabilitation program, and they may have experienced problems with their work, their marriages, and their families. 6 In addition, many people who are addicted to crack and other forms of cocaine have a co-morbid mental health issue, most often depression or attention-deficit disorder. 2 For these reasons, someone seeking treatment for crack withdrawal should consider attending a comprehensive recovery program after detox.
These programs can address the factors leading to crack addiction and/or factors that make recovery difficult, such as family conflict, underlying mental health disorders, and a lack of marketable job skills. By addressing a person’s daily needs, treatment can enable some recovering addicts to stay drug-free for a long time. 5 Types of Recovery Programs. Detox centers. A detox center gives a person addicted to crack an for several days to help them get over the worst of their withdrawal symptoms. These programs provide medical care and support. They may also provide some counseling and placement assistance to facilitate a seamless transition from detox to ongoing treatment.
Inpatient is the and typically provides assessments for any physical or mental health issues, access to health care, and a supportive environment designed to help a person through their program of recovery. Counseling is usually offered and may be individual- or group-based.
Behavioral counseling services can help a person learn to avoid trigger situations, to manage stress, and to refuse crack when they leave inpatient treatment. Partial hospitalization. Some people may attend a instead of being admitted to an inpatient program. Most partial programs are very similar to inpatient programs, but people who participate go home at night. Some of these programs are designed to function as a step-down from an inpatient program or a more intensive outpatient program. In some programs, a person may attend the program a few days per week for a few hours at a time.
Outpatient therapy often follows a stay in an inpatient program or some type of partial hospitalization program. However, for some people, outpatient treatment may be their first treatment episode. Outpatient programs, with some programs meeting only once or twice per week for a few hours, while other programs require daily attendance.
Most treatment programs help participants address behaviors that lead to drug use and how to change them through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. These techniques help the person in recovery that will enable them to stay drug-free.
The recovering user learns how to recognize situations that are likely to trigger crack cocaine use, avoid those situations, and cope with other problems related to drug use. 5. Contingency management. Other programs, which provides rewards to a person in exchange for not using crack or other drugs. The rewards can be as simple as a gym membership or tickets to events in the community. The incentives and rewards appear to have a positive impact on relapse and recovery. 5 Medications for Crack Withdrawal Medications are not a routine part of treatment for crack withdrawal.
Medications for pain and sleep issues are usually administered on an as-needed basis. Any severe depression to arise in association with crack withdrawal may be treated with antidepressants.
3 Current research is investigating the possible benefits of medications that affect the level of dopamine in the brain, as well as other chemicals in the brain. There is also research on a cocaine vaccine that would help the body not react to crack cocaine. However, the best current treatment for crack addiction is detox followed by a treatment program and aftercare to support a person in their quest for recovery.
Learn more about recovery from crack addiction:. Sources. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2016). Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
(Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45.) 4 Physical Detoxification Services for Withdrawal From Specific Substances.
Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). Australian Government. Department of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Wallace, B. Crack Cocaine: A Practical Treatment Approach for the Chemically Dependent. GENERAL DISCLAIMER Recovery.org is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in providing medical or health advice. The information provided through Recovery.org is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health problem or disease. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem you should consult your health care provider. All Recovery.org authors, editors, producers, and contributors shall have no liability, obligation, or responsibility to any person or entity for any loss, damage, or adverse consequence alleged to have happened directly or indirectly as a consequence of material on this website or any linked to content or providers referred to.
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