

It comes in crystalline “rocks”, typically smoked through a pipe to achieve the desired effects. Rock cocaine is a derivative of the substance cocaine, which has been cut during the process of making the drug.
#Crack addiction withdrawal crack
These fuels rock cocaine binges, which in turn fuels a fast and powerful crack addiction. When smoked, as rock cocaine usually is, the high is felt almost immediately, but the effects the user is seeking tend to end within 10 minutes. What Is Crack?Ĭrack cocaine is a stimulant drug that produces euphoric effects while speeding up mental processes and increasing energy. Quitting the drug causes crack withdrawal, which requires medical assistance and support. This method of using the substance multiplies the risks, making overdose likely. Due to its extremely short half-life, users of rock cocaine are driven to binge on the drug, taking various doses, often increasing amounts, in a brief period. Signs and symptoms of cocaine abuse will vary among individuals.Crack cocaine, also called rock cocaine, is a very dangerous drug, with users reporting intense cravings to use it and crack addiction after their first time taking it. When an individual struggles with these disorders, they may turn to substances to self-medicate the symptoms, which can lead to addiction. Psychological: Addiction often co-occurs with other mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety. Due to modeling they have come to learn that using substances to cope with painful emotions is acceptable behavior. Additionally, life stressors such as child abuse, death of loved ones, or other traumatic events cause stress and individuals turn to substance abuse as a type of self-medication. Additionally, structural changes in the brain may lead to the development of addiction as each individual reacts differently to stimuli.Įnvironmental: It has been hypothesized that individuals who have come from unstable home environments have a greater chance of developing an addiction problem because they have come to normalize the abuse of substances. When dopamine levels in the brain are low, an individual may abuse substances such as cocaine in order to make up for the lack of neurotransmitters in the brain. This theory suggest that there is a gene responsible for addiction development that is passed down through the generations.īiological: Biological factors like changes in the structure and function of the brain have also been linked to addiction problems. The chances are higher if it is a first-degree relative like a parent. Genetic: Research has consistently shown that individuals with relatives who have addiction problems are more likely to develop an addiction themselves. Some of the most common theories include: It is most likely that many factors such as genetic, environmental, biological, and psychological factors that work together to cause the development of a cocaine addiction. Park Royal Hospital is ready to help you fight your addiction and come out the other side victorious.Ĭauses and Risk Factors for Cocaine Abuse With the right treatments and rehab, an addiction to coke can be overcome. At this point the individual will require more and more cocaine in order to experience the good feelings they initially had.Ĭocaine addiction can be a terrible burden to carry. When this occurs it means an individual has built up a tolerance. Eventually cocaine stops the body from naturally producing dopamine in the brain and preventing it from being recycled back into the brain cells.

When used, cocaine affects the central nervous system, increasing the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which causes the intense rush addicts feel. This pattern of abuse is called the “binge and crash” cycle.Ĭocaine addiction is caused by the changes in the structure and function of the brain. In order to avoid the negative symptoms brought on by a crash, individuals will take more cocaine. After a short period of time the good feelings dissipate and the addict is left in a state of depression and exhaustion, also called a crash. When first consumed, an individual will experience a rush of delightful feelings. The high achieved from cocaine use lasts only a short amount of time which causes the addict to continuously use large amounts of the drug in order to maintain the high. The high resulting from cocaine varies depending on the method in which it is consumed, but injection produces the fastest and most intense high. Crack cocaine is consumed by heating the rock in a pipe and inhaling the smoke. Powdered cocaine is abused by snorting it or liquefying the powder and injecting it with needles into your veins.
