Crack Overdose Risk Factors, Signs, & Treatment
A crack overdose can have severe physical consequences on the body. Excessive amounts of crack can overwhelm the cardiovascular system, causing heart palpitations, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, and even heart failure. The intense stimulation of crack cocaine can put immense strain on the heart, leading to a rapid and dangerous increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This increased demand on the heart can result in the heart muscles becoming fatigued and weakened over time.
Additional Common Questions
A person can overdose the first time they use crack cocaine, or any time thereafter. Further, crack cocaine is a street drug, meaning you can never know for certain the potency or exact contents of the drug you take. The unpredictability alcohol-related deaths what to know of the drug contributes to the crack overdose risk. The body of someone who struggles with crack cocaine addiction has become reliant on the drug. If they don’t take the drug for a specific period of time, they start to feel sick.
Psychological Consequences of Overdosing on Crack
Check out our blog posts and resource links for the latest information on substance abuse. Whether you need help dealing with withdrawal symptoms or finding other ways to cope, we can help. Those who have not used crack before or only a few times have a much lower tolerance than those who use it frequently, making smaller amounts of crack likely to cause overdose. With so many different substances in your body, overdose becomes much more likely as many organ systems and bodily functions are affected. When certain substances are mixed in the body, they can amplify the effects of one another, making them potent. It’s not a sign of weakness, bad judgement or other personal characteristics.
Don’t Fall Prey To A Crack Overdose. Safely Navigate Addiction Treatment At Infinite Recovery
Intentional and unintentional self-harm can occur, as well as injury from altercations and death due to homicide. Bystanders, emergency responders, as well as caregivers, are at risk for assault. One of the significant dangers of smoking crack is that there is a strong chance of developing an addiction. Traditionally, crack use was rare outside the U.S. and the U.K. But it has grown into a significant public health issue worldwide. Cocaine use results in tens of thousands of deaths annually around the world.
- Mental health disorders are another potential consequence of crack cocaine use.
- Normal amounts of dopamine can make us feel happy, alert and focused.
- Users may experience severe anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, extreme agitation, and delirium.
- If you think someone you love is using cocaine, encourage them to seek help.
- When you freebase cocaine, the drug reaches the brain faster than when snorted in powder form.
Ways Crack Cocaine is Used
Medical professionals can assess the person’s condition, provide appropriate cocaine addiction treatment interventions, and offer support for their recovery journey. One of the primary risk factors of developing a crack cocaine overdose is taking large amounts of the drug. Crack cocaine is, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a Schedule II controlled substance which has a high potential for abuse. A crack cocaine overdose can occur when you smoke or consume too much of the drug. Signs of a crack overdose include chest pain and difficulty breathing, and an overdose may require immediate medical attention. Potential short-term side effects include overdose, addiction (cocaine use disorder) and withdrawal.
Crack has a variety of immediate side effects that one could encounter. Any symptoms, such as an elevated heart rate, dilated pupils, and acute agitation during the “come down,” could also be present. If a person has underlying health conditions (whether they are aware of them or not), it could make them more at risk of an overdose than someone who doesn’t experience that. When compared to a 30- to 60-minute cocaine high, this high lasts only 5 or 10 minutes at most. Crack is initially so habit-forming due to its brief high that anyone could become reeled in, even if it’s their first time. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks.
People who are addicted to crack have a chronic medical condition that requires treatment. It’s often not as simple as expecting a person to stop using it on their own, or thinking they’ll be better if they stop using it for a few days. We are a highly rated, well-equipped treatment center offering effective treatment for all kinds of substance use disorders.
That being said, be sure to call 911 as soon as you notice the overdose. The sooner the person who has overdosed receives attention from medical professionals, the better. Crack cocaine overdose affects many bodily functions and organs including the cardiovascular system. This is because when you snort cocaine, the drug is delivered directly alcohol and insomnia from the bloodstream to the brain. The occurrence of crack overdose may seem straightforward, but there are a few different ways you can be more susceptible to it. Cocaine overdose has become increasingly common in recent years and was involved in 1 in 5 overdose deaths in 2019 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cocaine use disorder (addiction) can affect your personal relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help people recover from cocaine use disorder. Smoking crack cocaine can lead to a number of health concerns, including a potential crack overdose. The side effects of crack cocaine can increase the risk of overdose, lead to a drug addiction, and cause life-threatening health problems even with first time use. Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug that can change lives and be life-threatening. Using cocaine may change how people’s brains work and increase their risk for many serious medical issues.
We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. If you think that someone is overdosing, please give them naloxone. Naloxone can be given safely to people of all ages, from infants to older medication for alcohol use disorder adults. This includes an adolescent or young adult who may have unintentionally taken an opioid. For more information on the different forms of naloxone and how to use them please visit the Lifesaving Naloxone.
