What is Crack Cocaine?
Cocaine (benzoylmethylecgonine) is an extremely powerful stimulant and illicit drug that creates a feeling of euphoria for the user. It is highly addictive to both the mind and body, and users easily become addicted to the drug. Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the coca plant, which grow primarily in South America. Cocaine is sold as a fine, white, crystalline powder, and has many street names. Some of the street names for Cocaine are: Coke, snow, blow, powder, flake, nose candy, big c, cane, crack and rock. Users will normally snort the cocaine, but it can also be modified through chemical processes to create “Crack” or “rock” cocaine.
Physical symptoms of cocaine use include: increased blood pressure; increased heart rate and body temperature; constricted blood vessels; and feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. While withdrawal usually has no physical symptoms, the psychological symptoms usually occur following the crash when cocaine use is stopped users have a strong craving for more cocaine. Additional withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, anxiety, irritability, lack of pleasure, sleepiness, and sometimes agitation or paranoia.
Without effective addiction treatment, cocaine users will have a hard time overcoming their addiction. Cocaine addiction treatment usually consists of detoxification, behavioral therapy and/or cognitive-behavioral therapy which can be done on an inpatient or sometimes outpatient basis. Cocaine addiction treatment as with any other effective addiction treatment should always be personalized to meet the needs of the user.
