What is crack cocaine?
The freebase, smoke-able form of cocaine is known as crack, but it also goes by other names on the street such as base, candy, hard, iron, and rock. How addictive is crack? Without a doubt, it is the most addictive form of cocaine available on the streets today which is another reason why the DEA views it as one of the six primary drug threats in the US today. Additionally, crack addiction is considered a serious public health threat by the medical community and most rehab centers offer programs for overcoming crack addiction.
A brief history of the drug
Crack hit the recreational drug scene in the mid 1980’s when cocaine use in the US had peaked and it was introduced to the lower income neighborhoods of the inner city in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Its explosive rise in popularity was attributed to the fact that the drug produced a powerful, quicker high than what cocaine did. So people began what is known as “freebasing” or filtering off the undesirable elements in order to achieve a purer form of the drug.
During the early 1990’s, crack began to decline noticeably in popularity although it is still considered one of the US’ primary drug threats. There were a number of different schools of thought and theories as to why this happened. Some feel it may have been a result of the War on Drugs which was originally launched by President Nixon over 40 years ago but was a prevalent aspect of American society throughout the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s. But this isn’t the only theory.
The effects on the brain’s reward system
In order to answer the question “How addictive is crack?” you have to understand how the reward system of the brain functions. As with most other addictive substances, the use of crack alters the brain’s reward system by trapping dopamine in the synapses or spaces between the nerve cells of the brain. When a person eats a meal or has sex with their partner, the pleasurable feelings that they feel results from the production of dopamine.
However, when an individual uses crack, dopamine continues to stimulate those cells which creates the euphoria or high they experience when using the drug. Granted, that high will only last between 5 and 15 minutes. But as the effects of the drug begins to wear off, the person is left feeling depressed and let down. This results in cravings for more of the drug so that they can experience those pleasurable feelings again.
Your only option may be entering a rehab program
How addictive is crack? The content above should answer that. However, if you are really concerned about this because you have been using the drug and are trying to determine if it is time to get professional help for it, you should contact the Delray Recovery Center. Our addiction specialists can answer this for you and determine if you need help. Please contact us today for more information about crack addiction rehab
