When you begin using drugs like crack, you don’t think ahead to the consequences of long-term chronic use. It is recreational primarily and you don’t give it much thought beyond getting high. However, crack abuse tends to escalate quite quickly from casually getting high to relying on the drug to cope and struggling with addiction. But long before addiction sets in, certain health risks become evident. Recognizing the risks of crack addiction early on can help you to identify when you or a loved on should considering seeking help.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine, call our helpline at 1-888-605-7779 today. We’ll connect you with an inpatient rehab center that can guide you to recovery and healing one step at a time. Rehab specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call and help YOU overcome crack addiction.

What Are the Short-Term Consequences of Crack Addiction?

Crack cocaine is known for its powerful, short-lived high. But, when it wears off, most people feel their moods swinging across the spectrum. It’s common for intense depression to quickly set in. Early on, many users notice the following signs of crack addiction:

1. 1. 1. Panic
      2. Psychosis
      3. Loss of appetite
      4. Contracted blood vessel
      5. Enlarged pupils
      6. Nausea and vomiting
      7. Violent, erratic, inexplicable behavior
      8. Tactile hallucinations, like the sensation of insects burrowing under your skin
      9. Anxiety
      10. Paranoia
      11. Drug cravings
      12. High heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure
      13. Increased rate of breathing
      14. Trouble sleeping
      15. Hyper-stimulation
      16. Hallucinations
      17. Hyperexcitability

   What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Crack Addiction?

   Long-term use has an impact on every system of the body. Smoking crack for a long time can lead to seriously health deterioration and a number of consequences that require professional care including:

   1. Severe depression
   2. Severe bowel decay
   3. Permanent damage to the blood vessels of the brain and ear
   4. High blood pressure
   5. Heart attack
   6. Stroke
   7. Liver damage
   8. Kidney damage
   9. Lung damage
   10. Infectious diseases and abscesses if you inject the drug
   11. Severe tooth decay
   12. Sexual problems, including infertility and reproductive damage
   13. Mood disturbances
   14. Psychosis
   15. Delirium
   16. Severe chest pains
   17. Respiratory failure
   18. Weight loss and malnutrition
   19. Tactile and auditory hallucinations
   20. Apathy
   21. Exhaustion
   22. Disorientation
   23. Increased frequency of dangerous behavior

Finding Inpatient Rehab for Crack Addiction

Obviously, the best thing you can do is stop using crack cocaine, but that may sound much easier than it actually IS. Crack cocaine addiction is hard to beat. The intense cravings that persist for many months following an addiction can quickly lead to relapse even for the most strong willed individual. This is because addiction is a chronic disease and it has nothing to do with your will-power or strength. In fact, some of the smartest, strongest and most mentally prepared people in the world have found themselves sucked into this horrible disease of addiction and begging for a way out.

If you or someone you care about is addicted to crack cocaine, call our helpline at 1-888-605-7779 to find an inpatient rehab center that will help you see the light. Our specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support and care that will lead you to recovery. We realize this is a tough decision, but help is available to make this terrible addiction a thing of your past. Your future is waiting…

Your Treatment May be Covered!

Did you know that many inpatient rehab centers accept health insurance? If you have health insurance, consider this an option to help you pay for rehab. In addition to the coverage that insurance may provide to help you get clean and sober, many rehab centers also offer helpful cost alternatives such as sliding fee programs, pay-as-you-go options, and government subsidized care. If you’re avoiding the call for help because you think you can’t afford it, consider one of these helpful ways to pay for rehab and learn more about how to pay for rehab here.