This page has been reviewed by Lester Morse, Director of Rehabs UK.
Crack cocaine is a smokable form of powder cocaine, turned into 'rocks' by heating the powder with water and bicarbonate. The name comes from the sound it makes when it is heated.
By inhaling the smoke, the drug reaches the bloodstream via the lungs almost instantly, causing a more intense high than powder cocaine. Both are Class A drugs in the UK.
In England, the number of crack users has increased 10 percent between 2010 and 2015, reaching 182,828 individuals, with the UK ranking in the top three countries for largest cocaine usage at 2.67%.
Overcoming crack cocaine addiction can be challenging, but there are a variety of treatment options available.
Why Is Crack Cocaine Addictive?
As with many other addictions, the cycle of 'chasing a high' builds a tolerance and compulsion that becomes an addiction. With crack cocaine, the peaks are very high and fade within 5-15 minutes, encouraging bingeing to avoid a crash.
Due to heavy social stigma, people struggling with crack use often try to hide their dependency. Recreational use is rare due to its potency. Crack cocaine is a very psychological addiction in which the individual loses the ability to stop despite harm to their health, finances, or relationships.
If you are concerned about a loved one, reach out to one of our Treatment Advisors for a free assessment.
- Physical: Coughing or shortness of breath, elevated heart rate, dilated pupils, and rapid weight loss.
- Psychological: Extreme paranoia, agitation, severe anxiety, and sudden, severe mood swings
- Behavioural: Spending large sums of money unpredictably, secretive behaviour, and abandoning personal or professional responsibilities.
Not all users of crack will become addicted; however, abuse may well turn out to be the first step along the way to developing a dependency, which then leads to addiction. The difference between abuse and addiction is that abuse refers to use that is unhealthy or illegal, while addiction is a chronic disease that makes an individual unable to stop despite the harm their drug use causes.
