Crack-cocaine (the term 'crack' will be used for the duration of this article) is a form of cocaine popularized in the 1980s due to its side effects and low cost. Crack comes in rock form, is smoked and (unlike powdered cocaine) has not been neutralized by an acid, making it a quicker high with shorter duration than cocaine that is injected or snorted. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.1 percent of Americans reported current (in the past month) use of crack, and 3.4 percent of Americans (12 and older) reported ever using crack in their lifetimes. Crack is highly addictive and extremely detrimental to one's health. Therefore, it is important to be able to identify the signs of crack use in a person in order to help that person seek rehabilitation assistance.
Loss of Interest in People/Things
A loss of interest in friends and family, food, sex or other pleasureful things is a key sign of crack addiction. When the brain detects something pleasureful, the chemical dopamine is released, creating increased activity in the part of the brain that reacts to pleasure. Normally, once the dopamine has been detected, it is returned to its place in the brain to be used for later; however, crack prevents dopamine from being returned, causing a buildup of the chemical. This buildup creates the extreme sense of pleasure that is the trademark "high" that makes crack so popular. Unfortunately, the brain becomes desensitized as more dopamine builds up and events that would have normally made one feel good, (e.g. seeing a loved one, eating good food) pale in comparison to the crack "high."
Mood Changes
Irritability, restlessness and paranoia occur after repeated and sustained use of crack. These feelings occur as a result of the brain constantly receiving the chemical stimulant dopamine.
Frequent Upper Respiratory Infections
The inhalation of vapors when smoking crack causes a breakdown in respiratory tissues in the lungs and esophagus, producing an environment that is more susceptible to infection.
Weight loss/Decline in Physical Appearance
Crack use causes decreased appetite, which is related to the loss of interest in food. Not only will weight loss likely occur, but overall physical appearance may diminish.
Dilated Pupils/Increased Body Temperature
The abnormal increase of width in the pupils is an immediate and common sign that someone is a crack user. Crack use also causes an increase in body temperature, which results in sweating.
