By the time crack cocaine addiction sets in, brain cells have undergone considerable damage leaving them unable to function normally without the ongoing effects of the drug. In general, any disruptions in brain chemical levels can offset any number of brain and body functions and processes, while at the same time creating a state of overall chemical imbalance throughout the brain. Crack works by stimulating individual brain cells, which release massive amounts of neurotransmitter chemicals, some of which include – Effects in the BrainĬrack cocaine addictions take root within the brain’s chemical processes as the drug continually alters neurotransmitter secretion rates over time. In most cases, a week’s worth of ongoing drug use is enough for a crack cocaine addiction to take hold. In actuality, a person can develop a crack cocaine addiction as of the first time trying the drug, according to the University of Maryland. The speed and intensity of drug effects accounts for why crack cocaine addictions develop so much faster than cocaine addictions. When smoking crack, users experience the drug’s effects almost immediately, bringing on a much more intense “high” that only lasts for 15 to 30 minutes. These effects can last anywhere from one to two hours. Crack got its name from the crackling sound it makes when smoked.Ĭompared to cocaine, the “high” effect produced by crack happens much quicker and lasts considerably shorter than a cocaine “high.” When snorting cocaine, drug effects take anywhere from three to five minutes to be felt. CocaineĬrack starts out as cocaine powder that’s “cooked” to produce a crystallized, rock substance. Call 80 ( Who Answers?) to find help today. We can help you find treatment for crack addiction. Fortunately, there are a range of treatment options available to help addicts overcome the devastating effects of crack cocaine addiction. Without needed treatment, addicts continue on in a downward spiral of failing health and psychological dysfunction. Signs of crack cocaine addiction take shape early on with frequent use, affecting most every area of a person’s life. While crack does come from cocaine, its addictive potential far surpasses cocaine’s in intensity and rate of addiction. Crack cocaine essentially wears away at brain chemical pathways with continued use.Īccording to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 1.9 million Americans reported using cocaine on a regular basis in 2008, 359,000 of which were regular crack cocaine users. A drug’s addictive potential corresponds with the degree of damage it causes in the brain in terms of altering brain chemical functions. Compared to other addictive drugs, crack cocaine exists as one of the most addictive substances on the market.