Crack Addiction Treatment Near Me

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What is crack?

Crack is a form of cocaine. Cocaine is derived from the coca plant and is used in rock and powder forms. The rock form is known as crack. It is created when the powdered form is combined with baking soda and subsequently boiled, creating a solid state. It is then cooled and broken into smaller rocks that are sold as crack. It is called crack because of the crackling sound it makes when it is made, as well as when it is heated to be smoked. It isn’t a common occurrence, but someone can become addicted to crack after only the first hit.

What is the difference between cocaine and crack?

Drugs do not discriminate between gender, age, economic status, or anyone else. The only time it does discriminate is when someone cannot afford it, but there is always another, cheaper drug out there. If a female teenager is experimenting and gets addicted to crack or the president of a Forbes 500 company needed relief from his luxurious, but stressful life, cocaine may have been their crutch. Maybe the younger girl finds that buying cocaine has become too expensive a habit. Crack was developed as a less expensive alternative that is more affordable to users in a lower tax bracket. By the 1980s, there was an epidemic in low income areas regarding crack use.

Crack not only is cheaper to buy for people simply wanting to get high, but it also provides a faster, more intense high. It is smoked so takes hold more quickly and intensely. It’s absorbed through the lungs and into the bloodstream within 10-15 seconds of inhalation. This short amount of time for it to take effect makes overdosing on it more likely, which can lead to convulsions, coma, and death. When someone is presenting with a rapid heart rate and hyperventilation, they are experiencing an overdose and should immediately seek medical assistance.

What does crack withdrawal look like?

It is a daunting idea to when someone is considering the cessation of using crack. The only time it may come into the mind of someone is when they have a break in access. Knowing the effects and how dangerous they are can lend to the likelihood that someone seeks out professional help to get clean if they have the motivation and have tried it on their own to no avail. Coming off of a high is one of the worst parts of using crack. Physiologically and psychologically, the cravings can overpower even the strongest of willpowers. There are phases to the withdrawal that may last anywhere from several days to several months — acute and post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). How long it lasts depends on a variety of factors, such as:

How long they have used crack
How much of it was used
If there was polydrug abuse (multiple substances abused)
Is there a dual diagnosis (mental health component)
Medical history
Method of crack consumption

Common withdrawal symptoms include:

Some form of anxiety
Very intense cravings
Sleeplessness / Insomnia
Being severely depressed
Being extremely fatigued
Having nightmares

How is structured crack addiction treatment safer than trying on your own?

While knowing the dangers of using crack and how hard the withdrawal can be is not the biggest motivating factor for users to quit, it can be helpful to know that even if they try more than once, numerous addicts recover fully. There are a variety of medications and therapies that can help with the infamous cravings during the withdrawal process. Choosing the right rehab facility will be one of the best ways for someone addicted to crack to achieve success in their mission for sobriety. An inpatient rehab is typically needed to have a full recovery. There are varying levels of treatment that are used in most standard facilities that include a version of the following:

Detox
- Can be found in its own facility or provided in an inpatient program.
Rehab and therapy
- These include group and individual therapies that employ a variety of techniques, such as:
  - Behavioral therapy that helps change the negative behavior that led to the abuse and teaches coping mechanisms to deal with the old behavior
  - Support groups to increase knowledge on how others are dealing with transitioning back into a sober world
  - Education on what abuse is and how it affects the user and everyone around them.
Aftercare and maintenance
- 12-step programs help people take responsibility for their actions and right the wrongs that they have done in the name of their drug of choice, in this case, crack.
- This is one of the most important parts of remaining sober and limits the chances of relapse whether or not it is necessary to reside with peers in a sober living home.

Life can be extremely difficult, and some experiences can create an exhilarating feeling like nothing else. Someone may find that it takes more to get them excited as they get older and meets new co-workers who are into having a good time. Maybe they are looking to alleviate the stress and anxiety they feel when facing life’s issues or perhaps someone else found that it helps them get through the negative feelings that they face every minute of every day. There is always help and it is never too late to find that help when a user contacts a crack addiction treatment center. Anyone can once again find the joy that they used to feel in life instead of the anxiety, muscle pain, and so much more that used to plague their life as an addict. They can take back their pride and dignity one step at a time!