Author: John Carter

Crack Overdose Signs, Symptoms, & Effects of Crack Use

In 2018, there were 14,666 overdose deaths involving cocaine in the United States. Crack overdose affects the brain, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems, and can be fatal in extreme situations. Lauren Brande, MA, has dedicated her life to psychological research. She started off her career with a scholarship from the Western Psychological Association for her undergraduate work in perceptual processing. As a person uses more and more crack, they begin to build up a tolerance to some of the desired effects as the brain grows accustomed to high levels of the substance. As a result, the user needs more and more to achieve the same high.

Also, cognitive deficits incurred by use can improve with sustained abstinence and support offered in the ‘drug-free’ environment of a treatment center. Word of mouth from other users and dealers is the only ‘authoritative’ information about ‘appropriate’ use. Discontinued use, treatment and a relapse prevention plan are the best ways to avoid overdose.

A person’s mental health will start to deteriorate when using crack long-term, which could eventually lead to psychosis. Before being trafficked into other nations, especially the United States, it is frequently produced in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. It’s typically crushed into tiny rocks and gets its name from the way smoking crack crackles due to the heat.

What is cocaine (crack)?

But the most significant effect is how cocaine use changes people’s brains, setting the stage for cocaine addiction (cocaine use disorder). We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness. We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside world completely substance-free and successful. Ark Behavioral Health offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. A person overdosing on crack may have suffered a heart attack or stroke.

Once taken to the emergency department, doctors will likely try and restore blood or air flow to the heart or brain. Defibrillators, CPR, and resuscitation can help a patient recover. Unlike other substances which have approved medications to reverse an overdose (such as many prescription opioids), crack overdose cannot be treated this way. Instead, first responders try to treat the severe symptoms of an overdose. Crack overdoses can also occur during the first time the drug is taken. The unpredictability of overdoses happening is one reason smoking crack is so dangerous.

As advocates of mental health and wellness, we take great pride in educating our readers on the various online therapy providers available. MentalHelp has partnered with several thought leaders in the mental health and wellness space, so we can help you make informed decisions on your wellness journey. MentalHelp may receive marketing compensation from these companies should you choose to use their services.

1. These symptoms can differ from person to person, but they are frequently unpleasant and can make it difficult for people to stop using the drug.
2. If you are aware that a loved one is using crack habitually to the point of addiction, they must undergo detox at a treatment facility.
3. MentalHelp has partnered with several thought leaders in the mental health and wellness space, so we can help you make informed decisions on your wellness journey.
4. Detoxing the body of the substance and attending psychotherapy can help people with their long-term recovery from crack addiction.
5. Crack cocaine use increases body temperature, heart rate, euphoria, and alertness.
6. Victims of these conditions may need intensive speech therapy, physical therapy, or other rehabilitation programs to recover fully.

When you call, you won’t be expected to sign up immediately or show up at our treatment center. Our admissions agents can answer questions about our levels of care, what programs we provide, accepted insurance, and more. The only sure way to prevent crack overdose is to cease all use of the drug. Research suggests that the progression from use to addiction is strongly influenced by genetics.

Signs and Symptoms of a Crack Addiction

Physical complications from an overdose may require medical follow-up and/or rehabilitation services. Persisting psychiatric symptoms may require dual diagnosis services in which addiction and mental health issues are treated simultaneously. The treatment process often begins with detox, where the person is not allowed to consume crack and may experience severe withdrawal symptoms as a result. Cocaine and crack are powerful stimulants that give users a euphoric feeling and increased energy, says Dr. Tetrault. Crack cocaine is the rock form of cocaine, created by processing powder cocaine with baking soda or ammonium salts. While crack is derived from cocaine, they have some major differences.

The risk of overdose increases if crack cocaine is combined with alcohol, which produces a toxic chemical known as cocaethylene. If someone mixes crack cocaine with heroin or other opioids, the results can be extremely lethal. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that’s extracted and processed from coca plant leaves in South America. Healthcare providers may occasionally use cocaine as anesthesia. More commonly, people use cocaine to boost feelings like being energized, happy and alert. Cocaine is very addictive, meaning people seek out the drug and use it even though they know the choice comes with negative consequences.

Additional Common Questions

Select a state to find options for rehab centers in your area. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Users smoke the substance after it has been dried and broken apart. When narcotics are smoked, the effects are felt considerably more immediately and intensely than when they are snorted or taken orally. Crack is most commonly obtained by young adults from friends or by buying it on the street.

Within 24 hours of the last dose, crack withdrawal symptoms can start, and they can last for up to five days. These symptoms can differ from person to person, but they are frequently unpleasant and can make it difficult for people to stop using the drug. Because of the short duration of a high and the rapid come down, users tend to use multiple doses of crack and take increasing amounts throughout the day. This means people are more likely to develop a substance use disorder than they would with conventional cocaine. Crack is a form of cocaine that starts from the coca plant – which often leads to the question “Can you overdose on crack? Symptoms of a crack overdose typically occur abruptly after use, although there are instances of delayed signs and symptoms occurring 1-2 hours after use.

If you notice someone is overdosing on crack cocaine, there are three vital steps you should take to ensure they have the best chance of surviving. The occurrence of crack overdose may seem straightforward, but there are a few different ways you can be more susceptible to it. Crack has a variety of immediate side effects that one could encounter. Any symptoms, such as an elevated heart rate, dilated pupils, and acute agitation during the “come down,” could also be present. If a person has underlying health conditions (whether they are aware of them or not), it could make them more at risk of an overdose than someone who doesn’t experience that.

The pattern might go on for days without a break, not even for sleep. Cocaine addiction is different in that the high lasts much longer, and continual doses are less likely. When compared to a 30- to 60-minute cocaine high, this high lasts only 5 or 10 minutes at most.