At Northbound we understand how difficult a crack addiction can be. We know that taking that first step for help is difficult. We are here to help 24 hours a day.
What Is Crack Cocaine?
Said to be the most addictive form of cocaine, crack cocaine is a rock-like, freebase or crystallized from of cocaine that offers an immediate, intense high to users. Almost 1% of teenagers will abuse crack cocaine at some point during their high school years.
At Northbound we understand that addiction is a progressive disease. What starts out as powder cocaine use at parties can quickly turn into a daily use of crack. We are here to help. If you or your loved one needs help or information about rehab for crack addiction we are available 24 hours a day.
Crack Cocaine Addiction
The powerfully addictive nature of crack cocaine contribute to a series of frightening physical and psychological effects from dependency and abuse of the drug. Crack triggers the release of large amounts of dopamine in the brain, resulting in a brief and intense sense of euphoria followed by depression as the effect dissipates. The user attempts to regain that first intense high, but as dopamine levels take time to replenish, successive hits of the drug result in “lower” highs—though the addict may spend hours or days in a binge where he or she does little other than take hits from a crack pipe.
The physical signs of crack cocaine abuse include dilated pupils, insomnia, and a lack of appetite. Those who are deeply addicted to crack often become extremely thin and stop taking care of their personal appearance. Restlessness, irritability, vertigo and even paranoid psychosis can result from continued dependency on the drug, along with hallucinations that cause the user to habitually scratch, even to the point where their skin becomes damaged and bleeds. In addition, crack cocaine is often adulterated (or “cut”) with other substances to increase its size for street sale—in some cases, those additional substances can be separately toxic to the body or even lethal, resulting in a separate series of threats to the addicts physical and mental health.
Crack Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Addiction to crack cocaine is devastating for both the individual suffering from dependency and his or her loved ones. So serious are the constellation of physical and mental health issues arising from addiction to crack, that the most skilled and experienced rehabilitation team is needed to help the addict return to long-term sobriety.
The first step is safe detoxification under appropriate medical care. At Northbound, all clients needing help with detox and withdrawal are stabilized in our oneEIGHTY detox program, where they receive 24 hour medical supervision. Because we know that each person who comes to us has their own challenges, at Northbound, we create an individualized treatment plan that takes into account all of the client’s needs and charts the best route toward recovery.
From experiential therapies to relearning life skills, Northbound will help the person struggling with addiction to crack cocaine find the hope and purpose they need for a new start. And our family program will help loved ones understand the addiction and what they can do to help support the former addict in recovery.
If you or someone you love is suffering from a dependency on crack cocaine, there is hope out there for a change. Contact Northbound today and take the first steps toward a healthy, sober life.
