Crack cocaine (benzoylmethylecgonine) is an addictive stimulant that has a high potential for abuse. Its street name is "crack." The drug can be snorted as a dry hydrochloride salt powder, inhaled as a vapor, or dissolved and injected into the circulation. Signs and symptoms of long-term use of crack abuse can cause adverse physical, pharmacological and psychological effects. Short-term use can increase risk of life-threatening cerebrovascular and cardiovascular emergencies, including sudden cardiac arrest, seizures and death.
Mood and Psychological Effects
One sign of crack use is the labile effect (unpredictable mood swings). An addict's mood swing can oscillate between euphoria to depression and even suicidal ideations, especially during the withdrawal phase. When the drug is in the circulation, an addict exhibits stereotypical behavior such as rapid speech, being over-talkative, overconfidence, high energy and delusions of grandeur. Without the drug in the system, the addict is withdrawn, anxious, nervous, self-centered and abusive. According to a report by the National Drug Intelligence Center, crack smoking also can cause aggressive and paranoid behavior.
Insomnia
Crack can keep a person awake for days, followed by a long "crash" period of fatigue. This cycle of high energy followed by lethargy is typical of crack addiction. An addict may keep strange hours, being awake all night and sleeping during the day. In a 2009 study published by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine by researcher S.L Walsh, disruption of sleep and "crashing" were both found to be symptoms of cocaine withdrawal.
Hallucination and Psychosis
Auditory and visual hallucinations can occur in instances of crack addiction. Addicts can exhibit bizarre behaviors, such as a person reacting to things that aren't actually there, talking to herself, and hearing voices and sounds. According to the 2009 National Institute on Drug Abuse report on cocaine abuse and addiction, chronic long-time abusers of crack can experience episodes of full-blown paranoid psychosis characterized by loss of touch with reality, and visual and auditory hallucinations.
Weight Loss
The online website cocainedrugaddiction.com cites that one of the early warning signs of cocaine addiction is weight loss, because this drug is acts as an appetite suppressant. Regular or chronic long-term cocaine abusers often have no interest in eating or have no appetite, resulting in rapid weight loss. Cocaine addicts usually appear wasted, pale, thin and gaunt.
