How to Spot Signs of Cocaine Use
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Monday, August 3, 2009
What Is Crack?
Crack (sometimes called "Rock") is the street name for a more purified (freebased) form of cocaine that is smoked. Crack, which may be as much as 90 percent pure, is five to six times stronger than the cocaine normally purchased on the street. It is believed that the drug is named for the crackling noise it makes when smoked.
Crack is sold in small plastic vials and is in the from of small white, gray or beige rough chunks that can be smoked in a marijuana or tobacco cigarette, or in a pipe - often made of glass. Crack can be purchased in small amounts - enough for two uses - for an average of $5 to $10.
What Are The Effects Produced By Crack?
Some users think that smoking is a less dangerous method of using the drug. But smoking Crack brings the vapors directly into the lungs, where they are immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and large doses of the drug are carried to the brain in a highly concentrated from. It is one of the most efficient ways of taking the drug, producing a rapid and intense reaction that can lead to particular psychological and physical effects and problems.
Psychological
The effects of Crack are very similar to those produced by cocaine. And, like cocaine, Crack is an extremely seductive drug. The drug initially gives users feelings of self-confidence, power and exhilaration. This is normally followed by a period of extreme depression or "crash." With continuing use, tolerance develops and the drug causes depression, paranoia, irritability, and other problems. Some users are reported to become violent or suicidal, primarily as a result of the paranoia and depression that can come with regular use.
Physical
Physically, Crack's effects are like those caused by cocaine. General effects of cocaine use include: extreme changes in blood pressure and increase of heart and respiration rates; insomnia; anxiety; nausea; tremors and convulsions. Researchers have indicated that smoking Crack can cause lung damage; heart attack; stroke; respiratory problems, including congestion, wheezing and spitting up of black phlegm; burning of the lips, tongue and throat; weight loss; and generally poor health.
Why Is Crack So Dangerous?
Crack is an especially dangerous drug because it can cause intense dependency and addiction after only a relatively short period of use. One of the most commonly heard remarks on the street is. "Once you start using Crack, you can't stop."
Nearly every physical and psychological high produced by a drug is followed by a low. The intensity of the high produced by Crack is followed by an equally intense "crash," or period of depression. In other words, the higher the high, the lower the low. The desire to compensate for the low leads to the pattern of compulsive use that users report.
Smoking Crack provides the user with a rapid and intense high that lasts about five to seven minutes and is followed by severe depression, feelings of worthlessness, and a craving for more of the drug. In a brief period of time, the drug begins to control the user, rather than the user the drug. This is the pattern of behavior that leads to addiction and dependence.
The compulsion to continue use of Crack has lead to the "binges" that are often described by users. During a binge, Crack is smoked
continuously until money and/or drug supplies are gone or the user experiences physical collapse. Cocaine Overdose
Because of the large doses of the drug that are taken into the bloodstream and the brain, smoking Crack increases the chance of cocaine overdose or cocaine poisoning. Symptoms of both include nausea, vomiting and irregular breathing; convulsions, coma and death are possible.
Using cocaine in combination with other drugs, such as alcohol or opiates ("speedball"), can also cause severe, and potentially fatal reactions.
Cocaine Psychosis
After repeated and continuing use of Crack, users may develop cocaine psychosis, a condition which is characterized by paranoia and visual, auditory and other sensory hallucinations.
Crack is merchandised by drug dealers as the cheap, easy and accessible way to use cocaine.
Crack (sometimes called "Rock") is the street name for a more purified (freebased) form of cocaine that is smoked. Crack, which may be as much as 90 percent pure, is five to six times stronger than the cocaine normally purchased on the street. It is believed that the drug is named for the crackling noise it makes when smoked.
Crack is sold in small plastic vials and is in the from of small white, gray or beige rough chunks that can be smoked in a marijuana or tobacco cigarette, or in a pipe - often made of glass. Crack can be purchased in small amounts - enough for two uses - for an average of $5 to $10.
What Are The Effects Produced By Crack?
Some users think that smoking is a less dangerous method of using the drug. But smoking Crack brings the vapors directly into the lungs, where they are immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and large doses of the drug are carried to the brain in a highly concentrated from. It is one of the most efficient ways of taking the drug, producing a rapid and intense reaction that can lead to particular psychological and physical effects and problems.
Psychological
The effects of Crack are very similar to those produced by cocaine. And, like cocaine, Crack is an extremely seductive drug. The drug initially gives users feelings of self-confidence, power and exhilaration. This is normally followed by a period of extreme depression or "crash." With continuing use, tolerance develops and the drug causes depression, paranoia, irritability, and other problems. Some users are reported to become violent or suicidal, primarily as a result of the paranoia and depression that can come with regular use.
Physical
Physically, Crack's effects are like those caused by cocaine. General effects of cocaine use include: extreme changes in blood pressure and increase of heart and respiration rates; insomnia; anxiety; nausea; tremors and convulsions. Researchers have indicated that smoking Crack can cause lung damage; heart attack; stroke; respiratory problems, including congestion, wheezing and spitting up of black phlegm; burning of the lips, tongue and throat; weight loss; and generally poor health.
Why Is Crack So Dangerous?
Crack is an especially dangerous drug because it can cause intense dependency and addiction after only a relatively short period of use. One of the most commonly heard remarks on the street is. "Once you start using Crack, you can't stop."
Nearly every physical and psychological high produced by a drug is followed by a low. The intensity of the high produced by Crack is followed by an equally intense "crash," or period of depression. In other words, the higher the high, the lower the low. The desire to compensate for the low leads to the pattern of compulsive use that users report.
Smoking Crack provides the user with a rapid and intense high that lasts about five to seven minutes and is followed by severe depression, feelings of worthlessness, and a craving for more of the drug. In a brief period of time, the drug begins to control the user, rather than the user the drug. This is the pattern of behavior that leads to addiction and dependence.
The compulsion to continue use of Crack has lead to the "binges" that are often described by users. During a binge, Crack is smoked
continuously until money and/or drug supplies are gone or the user experiences physical collapse. Cocaine Overdose
Because of the large doses of the drug that are taken into the bloodstream and the brain, smoking Crack increases the chance of cocaine overdose or cocaine poisoning. Symptoms of both include nausea, vomiting and irregular breathing; convulsions, coma and death are possible.
Using cocaine in combination with other drugs, such as alcohol or opiates ("speedball"), can also cause severe, and potentially fatal reactions.
Cocaine Psychosis
After repeated and continuing use of Crack, users may develop cocaine psychosis, a condition which is characterized by paranoia and visual, auditory and other sensory hallucinations.
Crack is merchandised by drug dealers as the cheap, easy and accessible way to use cocaine.
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