Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that can come in various forms. It is known as a class A drug and should be avoided. In this blog, we’re looking into cocaine vs crack cocaine.
While many people think that cocaine and crack cocaine are the same thing, this is not strictly true. Both versions of this stimulant drug are highly addictive. Cocaine addiction can have many serious side effects for the person involved and for their family. Read our blog on the role of family support in cocaine addiction recovery.
Dealing with addiction can be very overwhelming, and many people report feeling trapped. They may use cocaine to relieve emotion and then experience withdrawal symptoms, so take it again. It can be a vicious cycle.
What is cocaine?
Cocaine is a white powder drug that is made from coca plant leaves. Most of the time, the drug is snorted through the nose. It may have various slang terms that refer to it.
Cocaine was discovered many years ago and was previously used as an anaesthetic in eye surgery.
What is crack cocaine?
Crack cocaine comes in a more solid, rock-like form. It is usually dissolved with baking soda, heated up and smoked.
Both forms of the drug come from the leaves of the coca plant, but due to their varying composition, they have different effects on the body.
It’s also worth remembering that you can never be sure of which drugs you are taking and the ingredients within them. You should be extremely careful if you do choose to take drugs and always be honest about what you have taken. If you require medical attention, it’s very important to seek help quickly.
What’s the difference between cocaine and crack cocaine?
There are many similarities between cocaine in its original form and crack cocaine. However, there are some differences that you should be aware of.
Appearance of crack and cocaine
Cocaine: As we mentioned before, cocaine usually comes as a white powdery substance. Both forms come from the coca plant.
Crack cocaine: In contrast, crack comes from a larger, more solid form of cocaine that has been cut down into smaller pieces. When smoked, it is thought to make a ‘crackling’ sound, which is where the name comes from.
How they affect the body
When compared to standard cocaine, crack is thought to enter the body much faster, meaning that the effects are felt quicker too when smoking crack cocaine. We’ll let you know more about the effects of cocaine and crack cocaine later in the blog. Read our blog on what is coke jaw and why does it happen?
How crack and cocaine are used
Cocaine: Powdered cocaine is usually taken by snorting.
Crack cocaine: This more solid substance can be taken in many ways, such as snorting, injecting, eating and smoking.
What are the effects of taking cocaine and crack?
In the short term, cocaine and crack cocaine can have the following effects.
- Make you feel more energetic and talkative
- More aware of your senses
- Feel more awake and less hungry
- Feel a sense of calm and confidence
- Feel nervous and struggle to relax
While some of these effects might sound like positives, they are generally short-lived. Drugs cause your body to expel energy in short bursts, which increases the chances of you experiencing an energy crash afterwards. Additionally, taking cocaine makes it difficult for the mind to relax, meaning that it’s even harder to fall asleep and regain energy.
Crack and cocaine abuse can also cause problems with mental health, which may require additional treatment. Some cocaine users will experience more intense symptoms of their mental health conditions.
What are the health risks of taking cocaine and crack?
Using drugs has many health risks. These illegal substance drugs, in particular, can increase tooth loss and restrict blood flow in the nose. Many people end up with wounds, rashes and even problems with the septum after taking too much cocaine.
- Panic attacks
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Erratic behaviour
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Increased body temperature
Long-term health risks of taking cocaine and crack
There are many long-term risks of drug abuse. It’s important to seek medical help if you require it.
- Damage to the nose and sense of smell from snorting cocaine – read our blog on why do I get nosebleeds after cocaine?
- Lung damage from smoking crack
- Infections
- Increased risk of injury and violence
- Anxiety and depression
- Weight loss and poor health
- Infertility
- Loss of social and financial support
- Cocaine can cause the blood vessels in the brain to thicken
- It makes the heart work harder, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks
- It causes issues if you have weak blood vessels in the body
- Overdoses can lead to heart failure and seizures
- The liver produces cocaethylene, which can cause sudden death
Many people can experience health issues even from taking cocaine once. You never know how your body will react to the substance, and it is a very powerful substance regardless of how it’s taken.
What affects how my body reacts to the drugs?
Your body can react in a number of different ways to drugs, as it depends on many factors. Here are some of the factors you should consider.
- How much of the substance you take
- How often you use it and how long for
- Your age
- Your mood when you take it
- Your method of using it (smoking or snorting powder cocaine)
- If you have any existing health conditions
- Whether or not you have been drinking alcohol or used any other drugs
How can you spot cocaine addiction?
These are some common signs that someone may be experiencing cocaine addiction. Some of these can also overlap with cocaine withdrawal symptoms.
- Regular colds, congestion or nosebleeds
- Hyperactivity
- Agitation
- Difficulty with concentrating or focusing
- Insomnia, trouble sleeping
- Struggling with daily functions, such as going to work
How to deal with crack and cocaine addiction
Cocaine is a stimulant drug, but it is not linked with any physical dependence. Instead, it is a psychological dependence, which means it can be treated with rehabilitation. A detox is not necessary in these circumstances.
When it comes to cocaine use, the challenge for rehab involves working on the brain’s reward system. Cocaine use teaches the brain that it feels pleasure from taking the drug, which replaces important hormones such as dopamine that are felt naturally. This makes quitting cocaine alone very difficult.
If you are unsure whether rehab is the right step for your cocaine addiction, then the answer is yes. Cocaine is highly addictive, and it can take over your life very quickly.
At Acquiesce, we offer personalised treatment plans to help you get your life back on track. We offer professional treatment services and extensive aftercare support. Read our blog on personal stories of recovery from cocaine addiction.
When you choose to work with us, you are never alone. We will be with you every step of the way and have an excellent track record for treating cocaine addiction and other substance abuse. We have also been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC.
Are you ready to start your journey to recovery? Contact our friendly team today for support. You won’t regret it.
