Crack dependency is probably the most infamous drug addiction. Just the word crack has become synonymous with “addictive.” Most people assume crack addicts to be too far gone. Yet the condition is entirely treatable by medical professionals, so long as addicts maintain patience and determination.
Has crack taken over life? Do you feel like you need more and more of the drug all the time just to get the same effect? If you’re addicted to crack cocaine, it’s imperative that you enter a detoxification center, where doctors and addiction specialists can monitor you and make the process and comfortable as possible.
What Does Detox Feel Like?
Crack cocaine leaves the body relatively quickly, so withdrawal comes fast. It manifests first as a crash–a period that lasts anywhere from 9 hours to 4 days and makes up the worst of the withdrawal process. During this first stage of detox, addicts may experience agitation, aggression, depression, severe cravings, and insomnia. The intensity of the symptoms varies, depending on the use habits of the addict.
The next stage of withdrawal typically lasts from 1 to 3 weeks and is characterized by a persistent “lowness,” some aspects of which only doctors are likely to notice. Individuals may exhibit anxious or apathetic behavior, disorientation, appetite changes, fatigue, and a slowed heart rate. By this time, most recovering addicts are out of the detox center–and hopefully in rehab–but the cravings don’t stop, and the addict must continue to actively avoid situations that could trigger relapse.
Is There a Medication For Crack Detox?
Yes and no. There is no medication manufactured specifically for crack cocaine detox, but some pharmaceuticals—namely flupenthixol, decanoate, carbamazepine, antidepressants, and dopamine agonists—can work extremely well, despite cocaine detox not being their primary use. Doctors may prescribe anti-psychotic drugs to address hallucinations, as well as pain and sleeping medication.
Do I Need to Enter a Treatment?
Probably. You need to get sober, and your odds of getting there without treatment are unlikely at best. Please, please, please consult a medical professional if you have a crack cocaine problem. We don’t doubt that your determination is strong, we just know how powerful the cravings can get. With medical supervision, your risk of failure is substantially lessened. Another advantage of medical help is that the professionals can sniff out psychological complications that occur either as a cause or an effect of the drug use—and treat them.
Most crack addicts relapse before getting sober, and it usually happens after they stop attending their outpatient programs or group meetings. We want you on your road to healthy, happy sobriety right away, not after you trying on your own. Quitting crack cocaine on your own is simply not a practical mission; treatment is. Crack addiction is a nationwide problem, but not a helpless one. Every year, thousands of crack cocaine addicts set down their pipe for the very last time. You can do it too.
If you’re interested in detox/treatment here at Hired Power, give us a call at 800-910-9299.