Crack Addiction Rehab Guide

It is estimated that nearly ten million Americans have reported using crack in their lifetime and many of those have repeatedly used the drug for many years. In fact, crack addiction affects about a million people in the world each year and the addiction indirectly affects even more families, friends, loved ones and members of society as a result of the substance abuse. Not all people who smoke crack will become addicted but many will fall victim to the viscous cycle known as crack addiction.

For those who do fall victim to crack addiction, the idea of quitting seems impossible. The addiction effectively dismantles the individual’s life to a point in which there is no turning back-or so it seems. Fortunately, there are many medical and therapeutic methods of treating crack addiction which can work and can help an individual find their way back to sobriety. Patients need support, care, treatment and medical intervention to ensure that they make a full recovery from crack addiction – rehab can help.

Crack cocaine is one of the most addictive, dangerous drugs a person can possibly abuse. Crack can cause a number of serious side effects, including heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, if you or someone you love has been abusing this drug, treatment in a rehab center can help you make a change for the better. Call 888-414-2380 (Who Answers?) now to find safe, reliable rehab facilities that will help you put an end to your substance abuse.

Signs and Symptoms of Crack Abuse

The signs and symptoms caused by crack abuse are often similar to those experienced by cocaine abusers, albeit more intense. Short-term issues associated with the drug and its abuse can include

Crack Rehab

Aggressive behavior is a common side effect of crack abuse.

  • Increased body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate
  • Increased breathing rate
  • Dilated pupils
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Paranoia
  • Decreased appetite and need for sleep
  • Hyperstimulation
  • Euphoria
  • Intense cravings

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, people who misuse cocaine in this way will often experience a number of other issues in the long-term, including “respiratory problems” like

  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Worsened issues with asthma
  • Lung trauma and bleeding

Frequent crack abuse can also lead to toxic psychosis, severe depression, and sexual dysfunction. Brain seizures, heart attack, and stroke can all occur as well when a person abuses a large amount of the drug and experiences an overdose. Crack abuse is extremely dangerous and can cause a number of serious effects, but these are also symptoms of abuse that can let you know a person needs immediate treatment for their addiction to the drug.

Who Needs Crack Rehab?

Unfortunately, according to the Center for Substance Abuse Research, “A person can become addicted after his or her first time trying crack cocaine.” Though this addiction syndrome doesn’t always occur as quickly in every individual, someone who has been using drugs for years or has a number of risk factors associated with substance abuse is likely to experience an extremely fast-acting addiction syndrome when abusing crack. Therefore, anyone who has been using this drug should consider professional rehab.

Crack cocaine causes addiction much more quickly than the snorted or injected version of the drug. This is because its effects come on extremely fast, usually occurring less than 5 minutes after the individual smokes the drug and only lasting for 15 minutes or so.

This causes the individual to experience cravings right after the drug has worn off, and in most cases, users immediately start smoking again. Many individuals will smoke crack for as long as possible in order to prolong their high, which can lead to severe withdrawal afterwards. This is known as binge-crash abuse and is a behavior that usually leads to addiction and the need for professional treatment.

The signs and symptoms of crack addiction are often quite easy to spot, especially from an outsider. Not only does this addiction cause financial problems, legal problems, behavioral changes and a reange of medical problems are also likely to result from even a short term crack addiction problem. If you’re wondering if you or someone you love needs help for crack addiction, consider these signs and symptoms of abuse:

  •  Legal problems. Have you been arrested for crack cocaine possession? Have you had legal troubles as a result of your addiction such as being arrested for prostitution, theft or a similar crime as a result of your drug abuse. Rehab may be the next best, and safest option for you.
  • Financial problems. Have you spent your bill money on crack? Have you exhausted your bank account and borrowed money for friends or family members to support your crack habit?
  • Behavior changes. Are you agitated if you don’t have crack? Do you stay up all hours of the night and then sleep during the day?
  • Poor eating habits. Have you suffered dramatic weight loss because you don’t eat while on a crack binge? Do you crave sugar when you don’t have crack?
  • Overt obsession with getting high. Do you have an obsession with getting high? Do you spend the majority of your time trying to find crack or find a way to get money to buy more crack?
  • Suicidal thoughts or risky behaviors. If you don’t have crack, do you attempt suicide or have you thought of attempting suicide while under the influence of crack?

All of these behaviors or patterns are warning signs that rehab is needed. Crack addiction treatment begins with an intake process during which the patient will undergo a series of assessments that will allow the counselors and medical staff at the treatment center to understand their addiction and formulate a plan for treatment. You will be required to comply with house rules while in treatment and you will be responsible for keeping yourself sober while you are in treatment.

Treatments for Crack Abuse and Addiction

According to a study from the U.S. General Accounting Office, “The use of crack cocaine reached epidemic proportions in this country at the end of the 1980s.” Since then, the drug’s abuse has continued, causing both scientists and doctors to attempt to create a safe, effective treatment program for the drug’s addiction syndrome. While there are currently not as many options available for crack cocaine abuse as there are for many other drugs, it is still important to seek treatment, as rehab can help ensure a much safer recovery from crack addiction.

After the initial intake phase, you will enter detox. This process will typically take about 5 days for a crack addiction but it can take more or fewer days based on a number of factors including the severity of your addiction and various other factors. If you have been smoking crack for a very long time or you smoke excessively, detox could take a bit longer than if you have only had a few crack binges over the course of the last twelve months or so. It could be several days before you are ready to move on with your addiction treatment to the next level.

Crack rehab

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  • Most individuals must go through a detox period where they are treated for their withdrawal symptoms in order to lessen their severity. As stated by the National Library of Medicine, the withdrawal effects associated with cocaine are some of the strongest caused by any drug of abuse, and medications like
    • Anticravings agents
    • Antidepressants
    • Antipsychotics

can be used to treat them. Especially if one is suffering from severe depression or toxic psychosis as the result of their crack abuse, they will require intensive treatment with medications in order to safely recover.

  • After the individual is more stable, the behavioral therapy regimen associated with cocaine addiction treatment can normally begin. Behavioral therapy has been proven to be helpful for cocaine addiction treatment in both a residential and outpatient setting, and in many cases, more than one program may be used to ensure the strongest recovery possible.
    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy is especially effective for the treatment of almost any substance use disorder. This program helps patients relearn positive attitudes, beliefs, and skills in order to avoid relapse and reestablish a safe, drug-free life.
    • The Matrix Model is specifically catered to individuals with stimulant drug addictions, and according to the NIDA, “draw[s] heavily on other tested treatment approaches.” The program also utilizes drug testing and encourages therapists to maintain a positive relationship with their patient in order to strengthen treatment retention.
    • Contingency management is another option that uses drug testing but provides patients with a prize or voucher every time they pass a drug test. This helps the patient begin to focus on the rewards in life that are not obtained from substance abuse.
    • Family and couples therapy are also successful options for those who need help working on their relationships as part of recovery. Often, these programs can identify enabling behaviors that can actually support addiction and put a stop to them, which is much healthier for all parties involved (University of Pennsylvania Health System).

Each of these programs will assist you in gaining a better understanding of your addiction, learning how to avoid potential crack smoking triggers and provide you with the support you need for continued success in your recovery. Keep in mind that your addiction recovery will take time and it will require much effort on your part. Some specialty rehab centers will provide art therapy, equine therapy and other alternative treatments in addition to standard counseling and detoxification programs to assist you in complete physical and psychological recovery from crack addiction.

These are some of the most often used treatment options for crack cocaine addiction. However, many patients also benefit from other approaches that aren’t traditional treatment methods but can still be very effective.

  • 12-step support groups, like Cocaine Anonymous, can be helpful during recovery. In fact, “most drug addiction treatment programs encourage patients to participate in group therapy during and after formal treatment,” and this can be one way of doing so (NIDA).
  • People who do not feel comfortable with the 12-step process, however, may also want to consider seeking help from a secular organization for recovery like SMART Recovery.
  • Yoga and meditation can be extremely beneficial for certain individuals in addiction treatment. These programs focus on the technique of mindfulness or acknowledging one’s thoughts and feelings and understanding them before acting. This can help one immensely in fighting cravings, which crack can cause in a severe manner.
  • Art and music therapy are two other holistic approaches to crack rehab, and often, they are very helpful in treating people in certain groups, especially adolescents (NIDA Archives).

In most cases, a number of these treatments are used together to create a well-rounded rehab program for patients suffering from crack addiction and its side effects.

Inpatient Rehab vs. Outpatient Rehab

Crack cocaine abuse can be treated in an inpatient or outpatient program, although many individuals need inpatient care early on in their recoveries. This is often true because of the severe issues that crack abuse and addiction can cause, including mental disorders, severe and even deadly physical effects, and potential intense withdrawal symptoms that make the individual a danger to themselves and others.

In most cases, inpatient care is necessary for recovery, especially as an initial treatment option. However, some individuals––especially those with jobs and extended social support networks of close family and friends––may be able to attend outpatient treatment safely. In general, it is important to consider your needs as a recovering addict and as a person in treatment.

How Do I Choose the Right Crack Rehab Program?

According to the NIDA’s principles of effective treatment, “Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.” Therefore, it is necessary to consider all the different aspects of your situation before choosing a rehab program. It can also help to make a list.

  • Medical: Are you in need of intensive medical care for a physical side effect of crack abuse?
  • Psychological: Do you have a comorbid mental disorder? Have you experienced trauma that either led to or was caused by your substance abuse?
  • Social: Are you having problems communicating with family and friends?
  • Vocational: Did you lose your job to your addiction? Are you suffering from financial problems?
  • Legal: Have you been arrested or do you need to pay any fines because of your substance abuse?

Your age, gender, ethnicity, and other aspects of your life can affect your treatment needs as well. Once you determine how many of these aspects of your situation can affect your treatment, you can decide what type of rehab center you need to find as well as how intensive the program should be.

How Can I Find Crack Rehab Centers?

You can easily find the right crack rehab program today by calling 888-414-2380 (Who Answers?) . Our treatment advisors are standing by, ready to match you with a safe, effective rehab program that will fit the needs of your current situation.

Crack cocaine is a dangerous, extremely addictive drug, and the longer you put off seeking help, the harder it will be to finally stop. So, call now; this is the first step to recovery.