Cocaine and Crack Addiction
What is cocaine
and/or crack?
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug of abuse.
Once having tried cocaine, an individual cannot
predict or control the extent to which he or she
will continue to use the drug. The major routes
of administration of cocaine are sniffing or snorting,
injecting, and smoking (including free-base and
crack cocaine). "Crack" is the street
name given to cocaine that has been processed
from cocaine hydrochloride to a free base for
smoking. Smoking allows extremely high doses of
cocaine to reach the brain very quickly and brings
an intense and immediate high. Compulsive cocaine
use may develop even more rapidly if the substance
is smoked rather than snorted.
How does cocaine and/or
crack affect the brain and body?
Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant
that interferes with the reabsorbtion process
of dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with
pleasure and movement. Dopamine is released as
part of the brain's reward system and is involved
in the high that characterizes cocaine consumption.
Physical effects of cocaine use
include constricted peripheral blood vessels,
dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart
rate, and blood pressure. The duration of cocaine's
immediate euphoric effects, which include hyper-stimulation,
reduced fatigue, and mental clarity, depends on
the route of administration. The faster the absorption,
the more intense the high. On the other hand,
the faster the absorption, the shorter the duration
of action. The high from snorting may last 15
to 30 minutes, while that from smoking may last
5 to 10 minutes. Increased use can reduce the
period of stimulation.
What are the possible consequences
of cocaine and/or crack use and abuse?
Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness,
irritability, and anxiety. An appreciable tolerance
to the high may be developed, and many addicts
report that they seek but fail to achieve as much
pleasure as they did from their first exposure.
Scientific evidence suggests that the powerful
neuropsychologic reinforcing property of cocaine
is responsible for an individual's continued use,
despite harmful physical and social consequences.
In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the
first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter.
However, there is no way to determine who is prone
to sudden death.
High doses of cocaine and/or prolonged
use can trigger paranoia. Smoking crack cocaine
can produce a particularly aggressive paranoid
behavior in users. When addicted individuals stop
using cocaine, they often become depressed. This
also may lead to further cocaine use to alleviate
depression. Prolonged cocaine snorting can result
in ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose
and can damage the nasal septum enough to cause
it to collapse. Cocaine-related deaths are often
a result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed
by respiratory arrest.
What happens when cocaine
and/or crack is used with other drugs?
When people mix cocaine and alcohol consumption,
they are compounding the danger each drug poses
and unknowingly forming a complex chemical experiment
within their bodies. NIDA-funded researchers have
found that the human liver combines cocaine and
alcohol and manufactures a third substance, cocaethylene,
that intensifies cocaine's euphoric effects, while
possibly increasing the risk of sudden death.
Cocaine users who inject the drug are at risk
for transmitting or acquiring HIV infection/AIDS
if needles or other injection equipment are shared.
Help! I have a loved one
that needs help with his or her addiction to cocaine
or crack.
Many individuals have approached their loved one
regarding his/her drug addiction, with no success.
It may be helpful when talking with your loved
one, to have a third party present that is professionally
trained and knowledgeable about drug abuse.
Addiction Intervention Resources
moves your family out of crisis and assists in
addressing your loved one’s drug addiction.
To read more information on our Drug Intervention Program, Click Here or call our National Call Center 800.561.8158