Crack Substance Abuse Treatment
What is “crack”?
Crack is the name that has been given to the free-base form of cocaine as opposed to its powder form. Where the powder is typically inhaled, crack cocaine is smoked. It is a highly addictive and powerful stimulant and has been a popular favorite of substance abusers since the mid 1980’s. Its popularity is based in how rapidly it produces a high and because it is easy as well as inexpensive to produce. It is very affordable and readily available as a street drug, hence its classification as a primary drug threat (DEA 2010 report).
Physical and psychological effects of crack cocaine
As with other psychostimulant substances, crack cocaine produces a number of physical and psychological side effects. They are broken down as follows:
Physical effects – constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased blood pressure and heart rate, and increased body temperature. Large amounts intensify the high and will lead to bizarre and erratic behavior as well as violent actions. Additionally, muscle twitching, paranoia, tremors, and vertigo are not uncommon.
Psychological effects – aside from increased cravings for the drug that results from repeated use, the user will experience euphoria, increased confidence. These are typically followed with depression when the effects of the drug wear off.
Health issues
Beyond the smoking issue, there are other health risks involved when use of the drug continues over a long period of time. Because of the tendency to increase blood pressure and heart rates, this oftentimes leads to long-term cardiovascular issues. As a result of this, crack addiction is viewed as a serious public health threat according to health and medical professionals. Consequently, many addiction treatment and recovery facilities today offer crack substance abuse treatment programs.
About our addiction treatment and recovery center
The Delray Recovery Center has one of the highest recovery success rates in the US, especially where our crack substance abuse treatment program is concerned. Our facility provides the client with a homelike environment so that they can relax after completing the activities and chores of the day while getting the rest that they need to recover fully. Treatment is conducted in 5 phases that are based on a step-down model with the first phase being the most intensive.
Each phase that follows continues to decrease in intensity while allowing the client more and more freedom in each of the ensuing phases. Clients are allowed to progress through each phase at their own pace since no two individuals respond to crack substance abuse treatment in the same way.
