If you or a loved one are addicted to crack cocaine, then you have likely already experienced the pain and devastation that it can cause to users and those who are closest to them.
Crack addiction can make a healthy, successful, honest individual turn into someone that even their own family members don’t recognize. When someone has reached their ultimate low in this addiction, they can find themselves doing anything necessary to get that next high.
Attempts to intervene can cause the individual to slip further away, despite having the best intentions.
The good news is that there is help for this addiction. When a person receives the right treatment in the right environment, they can begin their journey back to a healthy, drug-free life. Crack cocaine addiction treatment in Colorado is available at Denver Recovery Center. We have the personalized treatment necessary to break free from this powerful addiction.
To find the information you are looking for, simply click on any topic below:
Table of Contents
What is Crack Cocaine?
Crack is a form of cocaine that is cooked into rock form and then smoked. Cocaine comes from the South American coca plant and has been used by many people for thousands of years for its numbing and pleasurable effects. In the 1970s, the United States was flooded with large supplies of cocaine and not enough demand from users, forcing drug dealers to get creative. They started changing the cocaine into crack by adding baking soda and heating the mixture until it formed solid rocks.
This rock form of cocaine can be smoked, which produces a much faster and far more intense high for the user. This also causes a very high rate of addiction, driving up the demand for the drug. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there were 359,000 crack users in 2008 alone.
When this form of cocaine is smoked, the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream through the membranes inside the lungs. It usually takes less than 15 seconds for the first hit to make it to the brain. The drug produces a sudden euphoria that is intense but lasts only a few minutes. This leaves the user craving more in an attempt to reach the same level of euphoria, causing a vicious cycle of repeated use.
What Are the Signs of Crack Addiction?
Crack cocaine affects the body in many different ways. When it enters the blood and travels to the brain, it tells the brain to release excessive amounts of dopamine.
Dopamine is the chemical inside your brain that is responsible for making you feel good. When you eat a delicious treat or exercise, dopamine is released in your brain. This feeling is what makes your brain want to do that activity again. However, when it is released in excessive amounts, you will have a feeling of euphoria. Your brain will instantly want to do more of whatever caused that massive dopamine release, which is why this drug can be so incredibly addictive.
Like all drugs, there are signs that you can look for if you are worried that a loved one might be developing an addiction to this drug. A person who is addicted may exhibit a number of different noticeable signs and side effects of crack cocaine use. Some of these signs may include changes in their physical appearance, while others may be behavioral.
Physical Signs
- Increased heart rate or high blood pressure
- Dilated pupils
- High body temperature
- Contracted blood vessels
- Increased breathing rate
- Burns on fingertips
- Cracked lips or blisters
- Muscle twitches
- Nose bleeds
- Restlessness
- Scratching at skin
Behavioral Signs
- Aggressive and violent mood swings
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Frequently disappearing
- Obsession with smoking crack
- Talking rapidly or not making sense
- Nervousness
- Agitation
- Continued use despite negative impact on relationships
- Sudden financial and legal problems
What Are the Signs of Crack Withdrawal?
From the very first time a person uses crack, the body changes the way it reacts to it. Over time, the body builds a tolerance to the drug, meaning that a person will have to use more and more to get high. If an addicted user then tries to suddenly stop using, their body will go through withdrawal. Withdrawal can be mild or life-threatening, depending on how long the person has been using and how much of the drug they are taking in on a regular basis.
Withdrawal symptoms will continue for as long as it takes a person’s body to get through that difficult adjustment period. You can expect withdrawal symptoms to begin to appear about 12 hours after the last use of the drug. They can go on for as long as three days or more, but after about 72 hours, the drug will have left your system, and you should start feeling better from there. Although you will likely still experience some uncomfortable symptoms for a week or longer, you should start feeling better after the third day.
Some of the more common crack withdrawal symptoms include:
- Intense irritability
- Depression
- Extreme tiredness
- Anxiety
- Constantly wanting to sleep
- Sudden increase in appetite
- Psychosis
- Bad dreams
- Dehydration
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
What Therapies Are Available to Treat Crack Addiction?
Every individual will respond differently to each treatment method. That is why there are many options that may provide a successful outcome for you. The most important thing is to find what works for you.
Most rehab centers will offer a number of different types of therapy as part of their overall treatment program. You may have a case manager who will oversee your progress, an individual counselor that you meet with on a one-on-one basis, as well as several different classes and activities that are all therapeutic and integral to a successful recovery. Some of these may include the following:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Therapy based on the principle that your thoughts impact your feelings and behaviors. Therefore, if you are able to change your thoughts about certain things, your feelings and behaviors will also change.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Similar to CBT in that it focuses on the way you perceive things, DBT focuses more on how people interact with others and how they deal with stress.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: This therapy is based on the ability that the brain has to heal itself from past trauma and negative experiences. Occasionally, the brain just needs a little help getting through those memories, which is what EMDR can help with.
Experiential Therapy: This type of therapy is ideal for people who learn best by doing something rather than talking about it. This therapy uses scenarios and activities that allow people to experience the treatment rather than just reading or talking.
Family Therapy: Dealing with family members can be difficult, especially if they don’t understand your addiction. Family therapy helps everyone involved by providing education about what you are going through, as well as strengthening the bonds between each family member.
Life Skills Training: It sounds silly, but when recovering from a devastating drug addiction, some of the things that are most important to learn (or re-learn) are basic life skills. These most basic skills are what allow people to function in everyday life without losing control and turning back to their drug of choice.
Outdoor Therapy: Humans have a special bond with nature. There is a connection that allows us to find healing in its power. Outdoor therapy brings patients out into nature to journey through the recovery process.
Holistic Therapy: When treating addiction, it is important to focus on more than just the body’s physical state. The mind and our spirit are equally important when it comes to treatment. Holistic therapy focuses on the entire self: body, mind, and spirit.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment: A large percentage of people who suffer from substance abuse also have a mental disorder of some kind. Whether it is anxiety, depression, PTSD, or something else, if you only treat one condition and not the other, you can expect a high rate of relapse. That is why dual-diagnosis treatment focuses on treating both substance abuse and any present mental conditions at the same time.
What Rehab Programs Are Available for Crack Cocaine Addiction?
When a person becomes addicted to crack, they develop a dependence on it and may feel as though they can’t live their life without it. That is because of the drug’s powerful effect on the brain and how it rewires thinking. Freeing yourself from this addiction means you will have to learn how to deal with stress, pain, boredom, and other life emotions without turning to the drug.
For many people, the best option is to undergo treatment in a crack cocaine rehab program. There are many programs available, and they each offer a different level of care.
Inpatient/Residential Programs: With this level of care, you will reside at a treatment facility and receive care from the staff on a 24/7 basis. You may have a case manager, a counselor, a doctor, and other professionals at your side. During the day, you will likely attend classes and therapy sessions. By completely removing yourself from your current situation, friends, and life stress, inpatient programs are an excellent way to restart your life.
Partial Hospitalization/Intensive Outpatient Programs: With partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient options, you will spend the majority of your day at the facility. Usually, this involves taking part in the same programs, classes, and counseling as with inpatient treatment. The biggest difference in this level is that you will go home at the end of each day. Oftentimes people will start out in a residential program and then graduate down into an intensive outpatient program as they transition back into society.
Outpatient Programs: With this level of care, you will likely spend a few hours a day at the facility for 3-5 days each week. Your counseling and classes will continue during this phase. This is a critical phase in treatment as you continue to adjust to normal life again. During this phase, you may return to work or school slowly, gradually working your way back to a normal life.
Is Treatment Available in Colorado?
If you or a loved one are addicted to crack and are ready to make a change, there are rehab centers that can help. If you live in Colorado, Denver Recovery Center is an excellent rehab facility that is well-equipped to treat your addiction.
Denver Recovery Center is a superior rehab center located just outside of the Denver area. We use evidence-based, holistic treatments that address all of your needs during your recovery. We know that no two addictions are quite the same, so no two recovery paths will be identical either. We customize a treatment plan around your unique situation and will help guide you through the struggle associated with quitting drugs and returning to a life that is healthy and sober.
Start Your Recovery Today.
If you or a loved one is ready to make the change and start your journey back to a healthy, happy, and sober life, call our facility today. Our professional and caring staff is here to help you through every difficult step that lies ahead.
By calling our hotline today, you will get to speak to an addiction specialist who can provide you with more information about how to reach your goals of sobriety. Our facility believes in a holistic approach that addresses treatment for your mind, your body, and your soul.
Why wait any longer? Start your recovery today with Denver Recovery Center. Call (844) 602-3175 to speak to a specialist now.
