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Medically reviewed:12/31/2018
Last updated: 03/26/2020
Author: Addictions.com Medical Review

Reading Time: 5minutes

Two grams of crack cocaine Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack or rock, is a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked. Crack offers a short, intense high to smokers. The Manual of Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment calls it the most addictive form of cocaine.

What is Crack Addiction?

B: a narrow opening Leave the door open a crack. Cracks between floorboards —used figuratively in phrases like fall through the cracks to describe one that has been improperly or inadvertently ignored or left out a player who fell through the cracks in the college draft Children slipping through the cracks. Cocaine and crack are highly addictive. People with a substance use disorder cannot function without their drug. They also need more and more to get the same effect, because their body builds up tolerance. If you have a substance use disorder related to cocaine or crack you will experience intense cravings.

Crack cocaine is a highly potent and addictive stimulant processed from powdered cocaine and made to look like a rock crystal. Crack produces effects similar to that of powdered cocaine but comes with a higher number of health risks including lung trauma and bleeding. People who use crack are often more talkative, can stay awake for long periods of time, and complete tasks more quickly.

Crack is known to be highly addictive due to the way it produces an immediate, intense high that lasts between five and 10 minutes. After the drug’s effects wear off, people use more crack to maintain their euphoria, which causes them to build a tolerance. As people continue to use crack regularly in higher amounts, they become physically dependent and require a certain amount of crack to ward off withdrawal symptoms. The intense crash after use can be marked by mood swings, extreme fatigue, aggression, and other negative effects.

What are the Risks of Crack Addiction?

There are roughly 913,000 people in the U.S. who are diagnosed with cocaine use disorder, which includes crack addiction. Last year over 10,600 people in the U.S. died from a crack-related overdose. Crack is highly addictive, and even one time smoking it has been known to lead to addiction.

Crack became more widely used in the U.S. during the 1980s on behalf of the drug being relatively easy and inexpensive to produce. Crack is made by dissolving powdered cocaine into water combined with ammonia or baking soda and boiled until the drug forms into a solid substance that is dried and broken into rock crystals.

Today, an estimated 1.5 million Americans over the age of 12 are regular cocaine users. Crack addiction can be safely and effectively treated using drug detox and other therapies aimed at helping people overcome psychological symptoms and causes of addiction.

What are the Symptoms of Crack Addiction?

Crack cocaine use offers many of the same risks as powdered cocaine, along with additional risks caused by smoking the substance. Short-term effects of crack include:

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• Intense “rush” of euphoria
• Increased energy level
• Talking more
• Hyper-stimulation
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Increased breathing rate
• Constriction of peripheral blood vessels
• Dilated pupils
• Decreased appetite
• Anxiety and paranoia
• Aggressive, paranoid behavior
• Depression
• Intense drug cravings
• Sudden death – even one use of crack can cause overdose and death

Prolonged use of crack can cause a number of problems for one’s physical and mental health. Crack use can lead to addiction, which is a chronic, relapsing disease that can take over many aspects of your life. The longer you use crack, the higher the potential for crack addiction becomes, and the more severe and the worse the long-term effects become, too.

Here are some potential long-term effects of crack abuse:

• Severe depression
• Irritability, mood disturbances
• Aggressive, paranoid behavior
• Delirium or psychosis
• Tolerance, addiction
• Auditory and tactile hallucinations
• Heart attack and heart disease
• Stroke
• Respiratory failure
• Brain seizures
• Sexual dysfunction (for men and women alike)
• Reproductive damage, infertility (men and women)
• Increased frequency of risky behavior
• Death

What are the Signs of Crack Addiction?

The short-term effects of crack cocaine often appeal to users who enjoy feeling more energetic, confident, and social. Crack can make people feel extremely happy, motivated, and stimulated, but can lead to aggression, irritability, and anxiety when used in high amounts.

Crack dependence can then quickly turn into an addiction, which is when a person continues using crack frequently and impulsively despite knowing it can lead to negative consequences. Crack addiction is often marked by changes in behavior that rule in favor of obtaining and using crack.

If you suspect someone is abusing crack, look for the signs of addiction.

Physical health-related warning signs of crack addiction:

• Bloodshot eyes dilated pupils
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Seizures without a history of epilepsy
• Deterioration of physical appearance, lack of hygiene and grooming
• Unexplained injuries or accidents
• Shakes, tremors, incoherent speech, impaired coordination

Behavioral symptoms of crack cocaine addiction:

• Increased absence from work or school, other responsibilities
• Loss of interest in activities that were previously found enjoyable
• Decreased motivation in general
• Unexplained and uncharacteristic need for money/financial problems; borrowing or stealing
• Withdrawn, secretive, or suspicious
• A sudden change in relationships, friends, places to hang out, and hobbies
• Getting into trouble often (arguments, fights, accidents, illegal activities)

Psychological crack addiction signs:

• Change in personality or attitude
• Sudden mood changes
• Irritability, angry outbursts, or laughing at nothing
• Periods of unusual hyperactivity or agitation
• Inability to focus, acting lethargic or ‘spacing out’
• Appearing fearful, withdrawn, anxious or paranoid without explanation

What to do if Someone You Love is Abusing Crack

Over time with repeated, regular crack use, the brain comes to rely solely on crack for dopamine and stops producing this chemical on its own. People who become dependent on crack will continue using the drug to experience pleasure, and face a higher risk for addiction as a result. A person is addicted to crack when their body becomes physically dependent on the drug, and they continue using crack despite knowing drug use will result in negative consequences, including health risks.

If you want to help someone through their addiction, try and open the lines of communication to them, but be prepared for them to be in denial about their habit. Working with a doctor or addiction specialist, you can set up an intervention for their crack addiction, to help get them into a treatment facility. Professional treatment is the best course of action to help someone suffering from crack addiction.

Which Treatment Options are Available for Crack Addiction?

Long-term users of crack should seek out inpatient treatment facilities. These provide the best opportunities for overcoming your crack addiction and sustaining a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Inpatient programs start with a drug detox, and include medical oversight, as well as behavioral therapy. Programs can range anywhere from 30 days to 90 days, with longer stays recommended for more severe addictions.

If you or someone you love is struggling with crack cocaine addiction, seek help right away. Crack is a dangerous drug that can cause serious problems with one’s physical and mental health and can lead to a fatal overdose. But crack addiction treatment can help you or a loved one safely and fully overcome addiction.

Find out what’s causing those unsightly squiggly lines that have marred your paint job—and learn how to remedy the situation.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Q: I recently noticed a few cracks in our living room wall. I’m not sure if they’ve been there for a while and I just missed them, or if they’re new. Are cracks in the walls easy-fix cosmetic problems—or signs of a structural issue that will need extensive repairs?

A: Wall cracks are fairly common in both new and older homes and are often the result of normal house “settling” that can quickly, inexpensively be remedied by re-taping the joints—the seams where the drywall panels meet. Occasionally, however, cracks in walls signify a larger problem that should be addressed before you attempt to repair the crack. Here’s how to determine if the crack is flagging a serious problem, and what steps to take to get your wall back in shape.

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RELATED: 6 Low-Cost Lifesavers to make Wall Repair a Cinch

Causes of Cracks in Walls

If your home was recently built, cracks in walls could be the results of “new home” settling.

New lumber, sometimes called “green lumber,” contains a high level of moisture and tends to move slightly as it dries out, so small wall cracks are common in newly built homes. It’s a good idea to wait a year after your home was completed before repairing any cracks. This gives the wood time to dry completely. After that, you can re-tape the cracked joints (see the last section below for how-to info) without worrying that more will appear.

Photo: istockphoto.com

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Hairline cracks over doors and windows are likely due to settling.

Houses of any age move and shift subtly over time, and the weakest area in a wall is the most likely to crack. A wall is constructed with vertical studs that extend from floor to ceiling. The studs must be cut, however, in order to install a door or a window. While the builder adds extra framing to the adjacent studs, these areas are still weaker than the rest of the wall, and when settling occurs, these spots are the first to develop cracks. Hairline cracks across walls and doorways do not indicate a structural problem; they should simply be re-taped and painted.

Leaving a house vacant can cause wall cracks.

Vacation homes and those that sit empty for a few months are prone to developing cracks in both walls and ceilings. This is due to the house not being climate controlled as it would be if it were occupied. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels can cause framing members and drywall to expand and contract, resulting in cracking. Like other wall cracks, these can be re-taped and painted.

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A thin straight crack could be the result of faulty taping.

When drywall panels are installed, the seams between the panels are filled with drywall mud and covered with paper tape. If the tape doesn’t have enough mud underneath to stick firmly, it can start to pull away from the wall over time. When this happens, you’ll see a fine crack where the tape has lifted. If there’s only one crack, try squirting a little household glue behind it and pressing it back into place. If the tape is lifting in multiple areas, however, your best bet is to re-tape all the seams because the problem will continue to recur.

Discoloration around the edges of the crack indicates a leak.

Water leaking from a window or the roof, or even a leaky attic water line, can run down inside a wall’s framing and saturate the drywall, which then softens and deteriorates, creating a crack with noticeable yellow or brownish stains. If the leak is fresh, such as from a recent rain, the area might also feel damp to the touch. Before fixing the crack, which will require replacing the damaged section of drywall and then re-taping, it’s important to find the source of the leak and repair it.

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Large, jagged, or diagonal cracks could indicate a structural problem.

Jagged or diagonal cracks indicate that the foundation may have shifted or sunk, or another problem has occurred, such as the deterioration and collapse of supporting wood members due to termite damage. Likewise, cracks wider than one-quarter inch indicate a potential problem with the home’s structure. These cracks warrant bringing in a reputable builder or engineer to inspect your home’s structure and pinpoint the cause. Once the structural problem is resolved, you can make drywall repairs, which involve replacing the damaged drywall panel(s) and then re-taping the joints.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Repairing Cracks in Walls

The best way to repair a crack in drywall is to re-tape the joint.

This involves scraping away the loose tape and crumbled bits of drywall mud, sanding the surface smooth, and then filling the crack with drywall compound and applying new tape. The trick to getting a smooth wall is to apply two to three very thin coats of drywall compound over the paper tape, and sand each coat after it dries before applying the next coat.

Filling cracks with spackle is not recommended.

The spackle does not provide the same reinforced surface coverage you’ll get by re-taping, and any slight settling will cause the crack to show up again. For long-lasting repairs, re-tape cracks rather than filling them with spackle.