Crack Cocaine Addiction

What is Crack Cocaine Addiction?

Crack is a much more effective form of cocaine. Crack is a substance obtained from the hydrochloride form of cocaine using sobyum bicarbonate or ammonium and water, and its regular use results in addiction to crack. “Crack” is usually sold in drinkable form and in small quantities. It can take effect in as little as 10 seconds. The addiction effect is very high. The individual who uses crack feels an intense desire to take the second one after the first drink In long-term use, irritability, hectic and suspicious picture may occur in people. The use of crack can cause various respiratory problems, lung and chest pains.

What Are the Risk Factors That May Cause Crack Cocaine Addiction?

When the crack starts to lose its effect, the person feels unhappy, exhausted, distressed, anxious, unable to enjoy anything, powerless and angry. The person may have an intense desire to sleep and sometimes have terrible dreams. In order to get rid of these effects, the person will want to use drugs again and this situation turns into a vicious circle after a while. Having an environment that mostly uses crack or substance, and inadequate family relationships may be risk factors for people.

How to Understand that a Person is Crack Cocaine Addict?

People may experience restlessness, impaired focus, inappropriate (compulsive) behaviour, intense insomnia, and weight loss. Crack users try to get away from social and work environments and find a safe place where they can use crack every 30-60 minutes.

What are the Problems Caused by Crack Cocaine Addiction?

The substance that the person buys as crack may not always be crack, as in other synthetic drugs. Accordingly, the effect of using crack may not be predicted exactly. Therefore, even without the use of high doses, death can be observed in the use of crack. In the use of crack, addiction develops very quickly and tolerance increases rapidly. While under the influence of crack, the person’s heart rate accelerates, the risk of having a heart attack increases, a sudden increase in blood pressure may occur, an extremely depressed mood or suicidal behaviour can be observed.

What are the Most Common Psychological Problems with Crack Cocaine Addiction?

Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and antisocial personality disorder were found to be the most common psychiatric diagnoses with crack use.

How to Treat Crack Cocaine Addiction in Turkey?

In the treatment of crack addiction, it is followed by drug therapy and addiction therapies. Crack addiction treatment is also planned according to the individual’s special needs and living space. During the treatment process, receiving support from the person’s family and close circles greatly contributes to the treatment and its course.

Information for Relatives of Crack Cocaine Addicts

If you are using crack, it is absolutely necessary to apply to a psychiatrist and start treatment. Because with this addiction, the person cannot handle it on his own and may start using crack again in the face of withdrawal symptoms that he cannot tolerate as a result of his own effort to quit. Therefore, getting psychological support and starting treatment allows the addiction process to be left behind.

The information on this page has been prepared by the Moodist Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital Medical Team.