Cocaine has been on the market for decades, with crack cocaine, introduced in the 1970s, being a more potent form of the illegal substance. Crack is cocaine that has been processed with ammonia or baking soda, which changes the properties of the drug into a more potent rock-like drug that is more easily smoked. Unfortunately, because of crack's higher potency, there are serious dangers--health, social and economic--involved in smoking it, and users often need help in quitting the addictive habit.
Step 1
Gather together a support group of friends and family who want to see you quit successfully. Quitting can be easier if you have a group of people around you who want to see you succeed, and are willing to help where necessary. Friends and family may also motivate you to want to quit more in order to not disappoint those who support you.
Step 2
Schedule an appointment with your doctor to evaluate the damage cocaine has already done to your body. Crack is a dangerous stimulant which can change your brain chemistry, damage your cardiovascular system and bring on mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and paranoia, states the Center for Substance Abuse Research. Your doctor can help make the damage more real by showing proof of the damage already done by your drug use, as well as can give you predictions of how further crack use will overall affect your health.
Step 3
Schedule an appointment with a behavioral psychologist. Behavioral psychologists can play two important roles in quitting crack. First, they can give you alternative coping mechanisms to help overcome the cravings and triggers to use during the quitting process. Second, they can provide medications and treatments for psychological problems that may have occurred because of your drug use, or disorders that you may be using crack to self-medicate with.
Step 4
Detox the drug from your system at a detoxification center. To have the best chance at quitting, you need to have a time of detox where your body can metabolize the drug out of your system, providing you with a clean slate to work with. Detox centers provide 24-hour supervision and services to better guarantee that you will make it through the detoxification period without relapsing. Medical detox is also available for those at high-risk for severe withdrawal symptoms that may require medical attention.
Step 5
Check yourself into a residential drug treatment center. When you are unable to keep clean on your own, residential treatment centers provide 24-hour care where you can live on the center campus to provide you with a temptation-free environment. Residential treatment provides one-one-one counseling, group therapy and other activities that are designed to give you the skills necessary to stay clean once you leave the treatment center.
Step 6
Attend a support group, such as Cocaine Anonymous, or live within a sober living facility after detox. Cocaine Anonymous provides support from others who have quit cocaine use, while sober living allows you to live with others who are recovering from drug-abuse in order to have accountability and support to not use.
Tips and Warnings
- Many treatment centers provide a dual service with both detoxification and treatment being provided at the same location.
- Withdrawal symptoms can be severe when detoxing from crack cocaine. Seriously consider getting professional help, at least through the first few weeks of quitting.
