Get Help with Effective Crack Cocaine Detox Programs
Crack has destroyed entire neighborhoods and destroyed families for decades. Beginning with the crack epidemic of the 1980s, this drug’s devastating rampage reached nearly every city in America.
Although the levels of intensity of the 1980s and 1990s associated with crack abuse disorder aren’t currently being experienced, this doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Individuals struggling with crack and actively seeking crack cocaine addiction treatment still face an uphill battle with specific challenges involved in recovery.
Crack is still considered one of the most addictive drugs on the market, with many users succumbing to its effects after the first use. After that initial hit, the constant chase to repeat this experience drives users into a whirlwind of substance abuse disorder.
What makes crack cocaine addiction so addictive, and why do users chase this high? The following section contains an overview of crack cocaine and why this addiction should be taken seriously.
If you or a loved one are struggling with crack, keep reading to find out more about the nature of getting help at our crack detox, and the effective programs available at Icarus in New Mexico.
An Overview of Crack Cocaine
Crack cocaine rose out of the cocaine craze of the 1970s. The widespread popularity of snorting cocaine eventually led to freebase cocaine, which is a smokable form of this drug. Eventually, dealers would end up creating a recipe that chemically altered the state of the drug, changing it from a powder to a solid.
This recipe would come to be known as crack, the highly addictive, smokable version of cocaine. Crack is made by heating cocaine with water and mixing it with baking soda and other agents. Ammonia is used as an alternative to baking soda, with the end goal of removing hydrochloride. This leads to a hard form of pure cocaine.
Cocaine is typically sold per gram, with a cost of around $80-$120 per gram bag. Because of this, cocaine was often considered a party drug or referred to as a “rich man’s drug.” However, dealers quickly realized they could market crack cocaine in much smaller quantities, often breaking down portions of this drug into $5 and $10 dollar offerings.
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This meant even the most impoverished individuals could partake in the high, which quickly led to two results. The constant return to chase the next crack high and incredibly high profits for dealers.
When crack is inhaled, users typically begin to feel the effects within a few seconds. Users experience a sudden rush of intense euphoria. However, these effects are only felt for a few short minutes. Users must proceed with the next hit to continue to maintain the desired level of high.
Crack blocks the transporters for dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. This leads to sharp spikes in these neurotransmitters, leading to the euphoria associated with crack use.
The Recipe for Crack Cocaine Addiction
However, this causes significant challenges for users looking to overcome crack abuse disorder. Eventually, the body’s inability to control the natural flow of these chemicals makes overcoming this disorder mentally taxing and exhausting.
Additionally, crack also causes significant cognitive and neurological challenges and impairments, further complicating the recovery process. All of these elements present the need for medically managed crack detoxification and subsequent treatment.
However, it’s important to note that not all crack addictions will require detox. Less severe cases may be able to navigate rehab without this level of care and go directly to residential or even outpatient care. It’s important to gauge whether or not you need to undergo crack detox before beginning treatment.
A quick and completely confidential call to our staff at Icarus Behavioral Health can help you assess your current levels of usage, and determine the best programs of support.