Crack Overview

Crack is a smokable form of cocaine. Crack cocaine is cheaper to produce than cocaine, is extremely addictive, and widely available. Crack is made up of baking soda and cocaine. This mixture is then formed into a rock or bump. The user will then smoke the crack cocaine and feel an intense rush as the stimulating effects on the brain are felt almost immediately. In fact, the peak high from smoking crack occurs almost immediately although a user will feel high for five to fifteen minutes after that.

Crack became widely abused in the mid-eighties and was predominantly abused by inner city, poor, residents.

Crack Side Effects

• Heart attack, stroke, or seizure
• Lung damage and respiratory distress
• Malnutrition due to the fact crack addicts would rather smoke than eat
• Extreme agitation and anxiety
• Legal troubles
• Death

Crack Addiction

Crack cocaine is an extremely addictive substance and users often begin thinking about getting their next rock seconds after the last was smoked. The addiction to crack cocaine is both physical and psychological. The fact that it is smoked makes crack more addictive than cocaine. the reason for this is that crack is absorbed into the lungs and passed onto the brain in seconds. this gives the user an immediate high. The high usually only lasts for about ten minutes, however, and then another dose is needed.

Crack Treatment

There is no medication approved for treatment for crack cocaine addicts. As such the most effective treatment is a multi-pronged approach of, therapy, social support, and managing the withdrawal symptoms. This can be done while the addict is admitted to a treatment center or on an outpatient basis. A crack addict usually has to hit rock bottom before they are willing to seek help. Even then it can be difficult for someone who abuses crack to seek help. Crack cocaine is one of the more difficult addictions to treat primarily because the desire to use is so intense amongst addicts.

Crack Cocaine Links

If you would like to know more about crack cocaine use, prevention, or treatment options please visit the following web sites:

http://www.clearhavencenter.com/substance-abuse-treatment-resources/crack.php http://www.myaddiction.com/categories/crackcocaine_treatment.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crack

Cocaine Overview

Cocaine is a white powdery substance that is made from the coca leaf. Cocaine is usually inhaled, but can be smoked, or injected as well. Cocaine is widely hailed as the worlds most powerful stimulant. The cocaine user feels euphoric, powerful, experiences racing thought, and allows the user to stay up for much longer to continue the party. By some estimates cocaine is the second most widely used drug behind only marijuana.

Cocaine users develop a tolerance to cocaine very quickly, sometimes within hours. More cocaine is needed to maintain or reach a high. Since cocaine is one of the more expensive drugs this can quickly lead an addict into a several hundred dollar a day habit.

Cocaine Side Effects

• Increased pulse and blood pressure
• Hyperactivity, irritability, and anxiety
• Increased core body temperature
• aggressive behavior
• Depression upon stopping use
• Heart attack
• Death

Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug and some users report becoming addicted extremely quickly due to the fact that a tolerance for cocaine develops within hours of using. Cocaine can become so addictive that the user will not be able to stop on their own. Stopping use can lead to severe depression, the inability to stay awake, loss of mental acuity, suicidal ideation, psychosis, paranoia, and fatigue.

Cocaine Treatment

Due to the fact that withdrawal from cocaine use can be extremely severe many users opt for inpatient treatment as opposed to quitting at home. Inpatient treatment is usually a better option because not only can a hospital manage withdrawal symptoms they can also offer group programming that will empower the addict to quite. Therapy and twelve step programs are usually part of a successful cocaine rehabilitation. Anti-anxiety drugs such as lorazepam may also be used to help with anxiety and the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.

Cocaine Links

If you would like more information about cocaine use, prevention, or side effects please visit the following web sites:

http://drugeffects.org/cocaine.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/cocaine/index.html

Heroin Overview

Heroin is a powerfully addictive derivative of the prescription painkiller morphine. Heroin is an extremely addictive substance and can often lead to life long effects on the user. Heroin is usually taken intravenously by needle, but can also be inhaled, or smoked. In fact many users believe that snorting heroin is less likely to result in becoming an addict, but this is a mistaken belief.

Heroin makes users feel euphoric, makes everyday worries disappear, and is also a potent painkiller. The thing that makes heroin an especially addictive drug is that the user needs to take it just feel “normal” again. The high that heroin users seek becomes more and more difficult to obtain as their tolerance increases.

Heroin Side Effects

• Addiction
• Collapsed veins
• Exposure to infectious diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis
• Pneumonia and other respiratory difficulties
• Risk of accidental overdose and death

Heroin Addiction

Heroin is an extremely addictive drug as pointed out above. Tolerance to heroin can begin to increase in as little as three days of use. The painful withdrawal from heroin also contributes to the users addiction. They know how difficult the withdrawal will be so continue to use heroin in order to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms of withdrawal from heroin include, cramps, chills, fever, abdominal pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, severe depression, aching joints, insomnia, itching, and muscle spasms. Heroin addiction is so powerful that many users will chase the drug to the exclusion of everything else in their life. They will become disinterested in other activities. Many heroin addicts also have extensive legal troubles that are due to them committing crimes in order to support the cost of their habit.

Heroin Treatment

Admission to an inpatient facility is recommended for someone who is seeking to quit using heroin. The reason for this is that hospitals can help the addict with the painful withdrawal symptoms. This is often done by giving methadone. Methadone is a longer acting opioid which allows the addict to avoid withdrawal. The methadone dose is then tapered to the lowest dose the patient can stand. Addicts often stay on methadone for months or years to avoid relapsing into heroin addiction. Intensive group therapy and twelve step programs are also recommended for a heroin addict to kick the habit.

Heroin Links

If you would like more information about heroin use, prevention, or side effects please feel free to visit the following sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin http://www.vistabay.com/blog/?p=17 http://www.heroindrugtreatment.com/