07 Sep Can You Overdose On Crack? Crack Overdose Signs & Dangers

Crack cocaine has serious health risks, which is why treatment is so important. Detoxing the body of the substance and attending psychotherapy can help people with their long-term recovery from crack addiction. Asking for help is a huge and important step toward recovering from cocaine use disorder. They may refer you to a substance abuse counselor or recommend community-based programs.

The desire for more frequent use and greater amounts increases quickly, resulting in binge use. Crack’s brief intoxication and highly addictive nature lead to significant health crises as users continually dose over extended periods. Treating a crack addiction may involve detoxification and therapy. Treatment may occur in hospitals, in therapeutic communities, or in clinical settings.

1. Symptoms include fatigue, unusual sleep patterns, and intense cravings.
2. Using crack is one of the most dangerous ways of achieving a cocaine high.
3. Chronic users may find it difficult to discontinue use and must seek professional help.
4. Cocaine is dissolved by crack producers in a solution of water, baking soda, or ammonia.

Can You Overdose on Crack?

Certain signs and symptoms are frequently experienced during a crack overdose and are simple to recognize with enough education. Even at very modest dosages and in first-time users, a crack overdose can still occur, making the use of crack harmful at any dosage. Because of its potency and addictive quality, any amount of crack use should be cause for concern. Those addicted to crack put getting their fix above all else, including breaking the law. Knowing what to look for could save your life or the life of someone you care about.

Cutting Agents Used With Crack Cocaine

BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. On the other hand, the effects of smoking or injecting crack happen in less than a minute and peak within 3 to 5 minutes. Crack got its name because it crackles when it is heated and smoked.

Crack cocaine is a form of cocaine that is processed to be smoked. It appears as small pieces or shavings of soap but has a rigid, sharp feel. Also, cognitive deficits incurred by use can improve with sustained abstinence and support offered in the ‘drug-free’ environment of a treatment center. With proper treatment, crack toxicity can be relatively short-lived once critical physical issues are managed. Word of mouth from other users and dealers is the only ‘authoritative’ information about ‘appropriate’ use. Discontinued use, treatment and a relapse prevention plan are the best ways to avoid overdose.

Crack Overdose Signs and Symptoms

Many programs will also help you to identify underlying reasons behind your crack habit and teach you ways to cope without drugs and resist relapse. Please call American Addiction Centers (AAC) today free at to take the first step. If you suspect that you or a friend is experiencing a crack overdose, call 911 for emergency help right away. The faster you get medical attention, the higher the chances of survival are.

While traditional cocaine is expensive, crack is immensely cheap in comparison. This, along with its addictive nature, has made it a catastrophic force in neighborhoods of lower socioeconomic status across the United States. Its affordability also means that its victims skew on the younger end of the scale. Attending an inpatient program gives the person time away from their daily lives that could inspire or influence the person to begin using again. Inpatient programs block out the external factors that could trigger relapse by providing a safe and compassionate place to recover.

It is characterized by a cycle of cravings and withdrawal, as well as other severe physical and mental symptoms. Being able to recognize a crack overdose is important, as anyone who smokes the drug has the chance of experiencing it. And, as stated by CESAR, “sudden death” can occur even does alcohol cause dry eyes with one use of the drug. As stated by the National Institution on Drug Abuse, around 5,000 deaths in the year 2013 were due to cocaine abuse. Many individuals who use the latter drug believe it to be less likely to cause an overdose because it lasts in the body for a shorter amount of time, but that is not true. Like many other illegal drugs, crack can cause a deadly overdose if an individual takes too much.

If you or a loved one are seeking recovery services that accept your medical insurance, reach out to Infinite Recovery today. For continued addiction treatment, outpatient treatment programs are designed to keep the person away from using again while providing a supportive, judge-free environment. This option should follow a stay at an inpatient facility or after completing a higher level of care.

If you suspect that your loved one may have overdosed on crack cocaine, seek medical help immediately by calling 911. The sooner you do so, the more likely it will be that the individual will receive the help they need and survive the overdose. In addition, you must also protect yourself and allow professionals to help your loved one, overdosing on crack can allow someone to act irrationally and violently. Once your loved one is in the hands of medical professionals, they can start to heal from the symptoms caused by their overdose. Just how much crack it takes to overdose depends on myriad factors — tolerance being chief among them.

Healthcare providers may occasionally use cocaine as anesthesia. More commonly, people use cocaine to boost feelings like being energized, happy and alert. Cocaine is very addictive, meaning people seek out the drug and use it even though they know the ideas for substance abuse groups choice comes with negative consequences. There are treatments for cocaine use disorder (cocaine addiction), but people often relapse and use it again. It comes as no surprise that death is a possible result of a crack cocaine overdose. Like the rapidity of the drug itself, these deaths can occur quickly.

Crack inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, creating excess of the neurotransmitter which helps control the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. As early as the first time you smoke crack, your brain has already started rewiring itself because it finds the resulting “high” pleasurable. Various treatment options and therapy programs can help you recover from crack addiction. These programs will consider your needs and other conditions. As advocates of mental health and wellness, we take great pride in educating our readers on the various online therapy providers available.

Those who were sexually abused in childhood are particularly at risk. Overdose risk is high as binge users endeavor to stay intoxicated without diminishing effects or attempt to recreate the ‘best high’ they have ever had. Smoking is most common due to the rapid and potent absorption of cocaine that can induce intoxication within seconds.

Cocaine use disorder (addiction) can affect your personal relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help people recover from cocaine use disorder. codependency vs enabling Cocaine, being a stimulant, results in feelings of euphoria and increased energy and alertness.

What Causes a Crack Overdose?

MentalHelp has partnered with several thought leaders in the mental health and wellness space, so we can help you make informed decisions on your wellness journey. MentalHelp may receive marketing compensation from these companies should you choose to use their services. Physical complications from an overdose may require medical follow-up and/or rehabilitation services. Persisting psychiatric symptoms may require dual diagnosis services in which addiction and mental health issues are treated simultaneously. Crack cocaine is rapidly absorbed and produces an immediate and intense euphoric effect relative to other forms of cocaine.