Signs and Symptoms of Crack Cocaine Use
Crack cocaine is the purer, more quickly addictive form of cocaine. It is easy to derive crack from cocaine, so it is normally converted and sold locally. For this reason, little crack cocaine is ever seized in Europe as there is little transport involved.
In Europe, as in the US, most of the cocaine that is consumed is powder. When crack is used, it is very often combined with heroin or other drug use. In fourteen European countries, more than 25% of those seeking treatment for cocaine addiction also reported using heroin.
This kind of multi-drug use that includes cocaine is responsible for 21% of the drug-related deaths in Europe.
Signs and Symptoms of Someone Abusing Crack
Crack cocaine is a very strong stimulant, so it speeds up the heart and increases blood pressure. A person’s muscles tense and he (or she) will feel exhilarated and energetic. He will manifest confidence, restlessness and talkativeness.
The crack high does not last long, so a person may need to smoke another crack rock in 15 to 30 minutes. This short-lived high may result in wild mood swings as the person feels euphoric then crashes again a short time later, followed by another high.
A crack smoker needs to have the paraphernalia on hand to smoke this drug, so there will be a small pipe of some kind that is used for smoking. It could just be a small glass pipe. There will be matches and lighters around and tiny plastic bags may be left behind.
Crack cocaine users tend to have lost more ground in their personal lives than powder cocaine users. This means that they are more likely to be unemployed, live in squalor and resort to criminal activity such as theft or prostitution, so they can get more of the drug.
After Extended Use
There are certain kinds of mental and physical damage that show up when a person has been abusing crack cocaine over time. The crack addict may be paranoid, depressed and keep himself isolated. He may hallucinate and think that bugs are crawling under his skin, causing him to pick at his skin to get the bugs out.
If you care for a person who has become trapped in crack cocaine abuse, get them help as soon as possible. The Narconon drug rehabilitation program that is located in cities across Europe can help. This long-term program gives a crack addict the time and support he or she needs to get the drugs cleared out of the body and relearn life skills. Crack cocaine addicts lose their life skills and judgement while addicted, and it takes a thorough drug rehab program to return these skills to them. The Narconon drug and alcohol recovery program has been helping all kinds of addicts relearn these skills for more than forty-five years. Contact us for more information.
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