A variation of cocaine, crack became popular in the mid-1980s, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. To make crack cocaine, dealers mix the cocaine with another substance, such as baking soda or ammonia. People can smoke, snort or inject crack cocaine. The University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research notes that a person can become addicted to crack cocaine after her first use.
Statistics
The Office of National Drug Control Policy notes that in the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 8.4 million people in the United States over the age of 12 responded that they had used crack cocaine. The number of high school students taking crack cocaine has gone down, according to the 2008 Monitoring the Future survey. The Office of National Drug Control Policy points out that the survey found that 3.2 percent of 12th-graders in 2008 used crack cocaine compared to 3.5 percent of 12th-graders in 2006.
Effects of Crack Cocaine Abuse
Abusing crack cocaine can result in serious health complications. For example, users may become paranoid, believing something bad may happen to them. Some users may have aggressive paranoia, in which they lash out at other people and may become argumentative. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America points out that if a person snorts crack cocaine, regular use of the drug can cause the formation of ulcers in the nose. Other serious health effects that can occur with crack cocaine use include respiratory failure, stroke, heart attack and infertility.
Duration of Effects
How long crack cocaine works depends on the method of use. For example, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America explains that the effects from snorting crack cocaine can last for 15 to 30 minutes. In comparison, the effects from smoking crack cocaine can last between five and 10 minutes. Since the effects of crack cocaine do not last long, abusers take more to maintain the euphoric effects.
Withdrawal
As people use more crack cocaine, they develop a physical dependence on the drug. When they stop taking crack cocaine or the effects wear off, users experience withdrawal symptoms. For example, users can have strong cravings for the drug, which leads many of them to use it again. The University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research notes that crack cocaine withdrawal can result in anxiety and fatigue. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America adds that users going through withdrawal may develop depression.
Treatment
The Office of National Drug Control Policy explains that in 2007, 167,914 people received treatment for crack cocaine abuse. Without treatment, abuse of crack cocaine can result in death. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that treatment options for crack cocaine abuse include social support and behavioral interventions, which help users control the behaviors and habits that lead them to use crack cocaine. As of 2010, the Food and Drug Administration had not approved a medication for the treatment of crack cocaine abuse.
