If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard of- or experienced a crack high and crash; or maybe, your loved one could be knee-deep into crack addiction, and you’re looking for safe ways to pull them out.
Don’t fret, you have come to the right doctor – no cracks about it. This blog will inform you on the best way to come down from crack, leaving you well-equipped to deal with the crash.
But before diving into that, let’s look at what this infamous substance is and where it comes from.
Understanding crack cocaine
Crack cocaine, or simply crack, is a highly addictive stimulant made from cocaine through a simple lab process. It’s made by dissolving powdered cocaine in water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or ammonia.
The residue from this reaction is filtered out, dried, broken into ‘rocky’ chunks, and sold as crack. Ideally, these ‘rocks’ are often jagged and vary in shapes and sizes.
Once ready for consumption, crack is either smoked through a pipe or heated on a piece of foil and inhaled. This process of heating crack to melt the rocks produces a cracking sound, hence its name.
Because of how it’s consumed, crack delivers an almost instantaneous and intense high. This euphoric effect is like a flipped switch; once it’s on, everything else is supercharged.
Riding the emotional rollercoaster
Here’s the deal – the same heightened changes you experience physically, you experience emotionally as well.
When high on crack, all your feelings go to their extremes. You feel energized, super alert, and sometimes, invincible. You literally know you’re high on crack when your new best friend is a lamp – and it’s not even plugged in. Yes, you read right. You take a leave from reality and begin bonding with inanimate objects.
But just as quickly the euphoria kicks in so is it shortlived. This burst of energy is, within a few minutes, followed by a harsh euphoric crash that’s accompanied by intense anxiety, irritability, and depression.
This quick crash prompts users to abuse more of the drug to sustain the high, thus building an addiction.
How does crack dependency develop?
The brain’s reward system gets hijacked by the temporary dopamine set off by crack cocaine. This way, the individual believes they can only operate under its influence and needs it to feel normal; normalcy, here, is the state of euphoria/pleasure.
As more of the drug is consumed, dependency develops. Habitual use of crack cocaine interferes with the natural production of dopamine, leading to intense cravings and withdrawal in its lack of.
This, therefore, compounds into an acute crack addiction that slowly develops into a full-blown addiction.
Signs and symptoms of crack abuse & addiction
Some physical signs and symptoms of crack abuse include:
- Weight loss
- Dilated pupils
- Reduced appetite
- Skin coloration
- Injection marks
- Increased heart rate
- Twitching and jitteriness
Crack addicts often exhibit the following behavior:
- Compulsive eagerness to use the drug to quench their cravings.
- Isolation to conceal their dependency.
- Neglect of personal hygiene.
- Aggression or unusual excitement while under the drug.
- Neglect of life responsibilities such as home obligations or absenteeism at work or school.
Psychological signs and symptoms of crack abuse include:
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Obsession of the drug, leading to the high frequency of use.
- Depression
- Emotional highs and lows experienced at both extremes.
Is crack more addictive than cocaine?
The way crack is manufactured is aimed at concentrating its contents, thereby making it more potent. The more potent the drug is, the stronger the urge to use it again and, hence, harder to quit.
Perhaps you’re wondering, since crack is made from cocaine, why wouldn’t one just use the original product?
Well, the nature and composition of these two drugs are different. Let’s look at how crack differs from regular cocaine.
What’s the difference between crack & cocaine?
1. Form and composition
Both crack and cocaine are highly addictive stimulants derived from the dried leaves of the coca plant. These leaves contain alkaloids which are processed and extracted to form cocaine.
Although both drugs have the same chemical composition, they differ in physical form and purity. Cocaine comes in the form of white powder and is processed through a purification process, leaving it around 80-90% pure.
Crack, on the other hand, takes the form of white rocks that are less purer than powdered cocaine due to the addition of other substances.
2. Method of use
Cocaine powder is often snorted through the nose or dissolved in water and injected directly into the bloodstream while crack cocaine is smoked. The latter hits immediately after it’s ingested as it easily enters the bloodstream compared to the snorted powder.
3. Length of stay in the system
How long cocaine and crack stay in the body depends on several factors such as the frequency of use, the amount used at any single time, the body’s rate of metabolism, and body fat content (metabolites can be stored in fat tissues, lingering longer in the body) among others.
4. Cost and availability
As the saying goes – crack is whack. Both crack and cocaine are arguably expensive drugs. However, due to the low quality and purity of crack, it is cheaper and more accessible to a wider audience.
Cocaine is more expensive due to its high purity. Consequently, the prices of both drugs differ based on their purity, location, and supply and demand.
What is crack comedown?
Now let’s get to the meaty part and understand what exactly is a crack comedown and the best way to come down from crack.
Ideally, a crack comedown is the after-effect or “harsh crash” experienced once the drug’s effects wear off your body. A comedown is termed “harsh” because a quite unpleasant crash often follows the quick euphoria of crack use as the brain’s chemistry returns to normal.
The body and brain of the user experience a sudden drop in dopamine and serotonin hormones leaving them feeling physically and emotionally drained.
But this isn’t the hard part yet. The hardest part is that you will have to use more of the drug to escape this comedown and before you know it, it’s a vicious cycle. This desire to escape the crash, or fear of a dopamine surge, makes it hard to quit using.
So how does a crack comedown feel like? Well, read on to find out.
Crack cocaine withdrawal
Essentially, when the body is suddenly deprived of a “fix”, it resorts to withdrawal. As the crash is prolonged, so do the withdrawal symptoms intensify. This often happens within hours of the last use.
However, symptoms can range from mild to severe withdrawals that can be fatal. This is because withdrawal intensity differs depending on the addict’s level of addiction.
But how does one recognize the withdrawals? The first signs can range from fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and cravings which intensify by the hour. Cravings are the very first sign that your body is entering withdrawal.
This overpowering urge to use again is what makes addicts go to unimaginable lengths to get their fix – for them, it’s a matter of life and death.
Other withdrawal symptoms to watch out for over time include:
Within the first 72 hours:
- Sleep disruptions – insomnia or hypersomnia.
- Increased appetite – compared to the loss of appetite while using the drug.
- Depression, which leads to suicidal thoughts and general sadness.
- Extreme fatigue
Between 3 to 7 days of withdrawal:
- A persistent urge to use again but with reduced cravings.
- Withdrawn behavior due to mood swings that manifest as anxiety, irritability, and depression.
The addict is often on edge and even vaguely mundane issues may trigger an overreaction. - Muscle aches.
Between 7 to 14 days of withdrawal:
- Improved sleep patterns.
- Milder cravings.
- Less pronounced mood swings as the brain is gradually adjusting to the new normal.
- Reduced fatigue.
By this stage, the intense symptoms experienced in the first week are alleviating. Both the brain and body adapt to the ongoing detox. If there is no relapse, most withdrawal symptoms subside within 14 to 20 days of last use.
However, if your recovery takes longer, don’t fret. There is no specific timeline for recovery. All it takes is a consistent effort to manage your symptoms and avoid relapse. Any persistent but less severe symptoms that still linger after three weeks are considered Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms.
But all this is easier said than done. Riding through the withdrawal phase is overwhelming. No one should not face it alone. Nonetheless, with the right measures in place, this process can be managed to ease the discomfort and facilitate recovery.
What helps with crack comedown?
Finding the best way to come down from crack involves managing the withdrawals that come after the crash. This can be done through:
Proper body nourishment
Supplement your daily intake with foods high in fiber such as whole grains, Vitamin B such as salmon, broccoli, and asparagus, low-fat proteins such as lean beef and fish, and dairy products.
A well-balanced diet helps replenish vital nutrients in the body and boost your mental and overall well-being.
Hydration
They say water is the purest of gifts; it cleanses both the body and the spirit. Well, drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxic metabolites from your system. Well-hydrated kidneys work efficiently and optimally, speeding up the detox process.
But hydration is not only drinking lots of water but also drinks that would replenish your electrolyte levels.
We’re talking coconut water, fruit juices, milk, and smoothies.
During addiction, the lack of appetite leads to low nutritious input, which, in turn, leads to electrolytic imbalance. Replenishing this electrolyte imbalance with mineral-rich surpluses containing sodium, magnesium, and potassium helps improve muscle function and heart health.
Avoid triggers
A trigger is anything – from a person to a place, situation, or emotion – that predisposes you to a relapse. Recovering from withdrawal is not just a physical battle but a mental and emotional one as well.
For this reason, avoid anything emotional, physical, or situational that may trigger your cravings.
Seek professional help
Let’s face it – crack withdrawal is tough. If a supportive environment that would care for you or your loved one is lacking, then seeking professional help is the best solution. Professional intervention attends to your physical, emotional, and mental withdrawals. Some of the treatment programs you may be exposed to in a professional setting include:
- Crack detoxification treatment plan.
- Cognitive behavioral therapies.
- Support groups such as the Cocaine Anonymous.
The relationships you develop in treatment facilities are fundamental to your recovery journey. Those bonds will come in handy in your everyday struggles with crack addiction and also keep you out of a relapse.
No matter the course of treatment you choose, it’s important to join support groups to expand your network and also draw inspiration and hope from recovered addicts.
