It’s fast acting, cheap, and potent. In fact, it’s also a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. However, just like with its counterpart, cocaine, crack cocaine abuse quickly leads to addiction. Fortunately, there’s help in the form of addiction treatment.
Crack Cocaine Abuse is a High-Risk Activity
The high is quick, but so is the peak and come down. Not surprisingly, you’ll increase the dosage. You now come to rely on the high as a way of feeling sharp and strong. When you don’t have the drug, you feel like you can’t deal with life as it is. You continue the crack cocaine abuse as a means of escaping reality.
Physical Deterioration Happens Quickly
Smoking crack results in extensive damage to your mouth’s mucous membranes. Moreover, the heat of the crack pipe adversely affects the health of your teeth, which chip and crack.
You also change psychologically. Some users develop paranoia and experience hallucinations. Psychosis is possible. Furthermore, your moods change quickly, and you sometimes act out violently against those around you.
Getting Help for Crack Cocaine Abuse
Good-quality addiction treatment programs will start you with detoxification. Some people don’t believe that inhaling something comes with intense withdrawal symptoms. They’re wrong. That said, the majority of the withdrawal will be psychological.
You’ll experience anxiety without the crack. For example, agitation and irritability mount. Some people also develop depression they can’t shake. These conditions can be debilitating and dangerous.
Pharmacological support can take the edge off these withdrawal symptoms. There’s no reason to feel discomfort and pain during detoxification. Medical monitoring prevents these problems from developing. Rather than trying to quit on your own at home, entrust your care to specialists in the field.
Next comes the rehab portion of treatment. Because it’s easy to relapse after detox, opt for a center that offers detoxification and rehab at the same location. Doing so allows you to transition to the next portion of care seamlessly. Therefore, therapists work with you to understand what made you start your crack cocaine abuse.
Behavioral treatment is at the forefront of the therapies that experts use. Examples include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Residential treatment
- Mindfulness training
- Group therapy
Family Therapy is a Crucial Aspect of Care
Your support network is an integral part of your aftercare planning. While you’re undergoing treatment, therapy that involves family is vital. They may have seen you at your worst and now need proof that you’re serious about changing. Including them in talk therapy sessions helps to re-establish communication.
It also creates healthy boundaries and roles within your family structure. As a result, you can remove triggers that may have contributed to your crack cocaine abuse. It also teaches your family members how to help you stay sober after discharge. Typically, families welcome the opportunity to assist their loved ones.
Making the Decision to Quit the Drug Abuse Today
Don’t wait for a crack cocaine overdose to become your wake-up call. You already know that addiction is taking a toll on your body and mind. With the help of therapists at Ashley Addiction Treatment, you have a good chance at returning to a sober lifestyle. Find out exactly how to get started today by dialing 866-313-6307 now.