Crack cocaine, a potent form of the drug cocaine, is often associated with smoking rather than injection. The misconception that crack can be shot up likely arises from the fact that other drugs, such as heroin, are commonly injected. However, the chemical properties of crack make it unsuitable for injection.
There are treatments for cocaine use disorder (cocaine addiction), but people often relapse and use it again. The upsurge in cocaine use from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s was primarily the resultof increased consumption of cocaine hydrochloride administered intranasally bymiddle-class and upper-class cocaine users. Few cocaine users were injecting cocaineduring this period, and even fewer were making the effort to convert it to cocaine base.The emergence of crack cocaine fundamentally altered these demographics.
The Chemical Makeup of Crack
How Is Cocaine Used?
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood from the extremities of the body back to the heart and lungs where it becomes re-oxygenated. Veins have no pulse, and the blood they carry is a deep, dark red because it is low in oxygen. Arteries carry blood rich in oxygen from the lungs and heart to all the other parts of the body. Arteries have a pulse, and the blood in them is bright red and frothy. Arteries are located deeper in the body than veins and so are not visible as many of your veins are. Blood vessels may rupture and the risk of cardiac arrest may occur.
Crack is made by mixing cocaine powder with baking soda and water, then heating the mixture to create a solid substance that can be broken into small rocks. The resulting product is typically smoked using a pipe, but it cannot be easily dissolved in water for injection.
- Freebasing is a process that can increase the potency of a substance.
- Intense stimulation of sigma and muscarinic receptors by cocaine and increased synaptic concentration of serotonin have been proposed as causal.
- [I use lemon and vinegar] loads of times, maybe for every ten times I inject probably two or three times, yeah, because I use so much citric for one bag, like the whole sachet, I run out of it constantly.
- The citric burns your skin, I don’t think it’s fair … it’s bad enough people have a habit, but at least help them.
Crack is a highly addictive drug that causes a short, intense high, followed by a crash. It is often sold in small, inexpensive quantities, making it accessible to many people who might not otherwise be able to afford cocaine. Smoking crack delivers the drug quickly to the brain, producing an almost immediate high.
Which Kinds Of Treatment Work For Cocaine Use Disorder?
Dangers of Injecting Crack
Attempting to inject crack can be extremely dangerous. The solid nature of the drug makes it difficult to dissolve completely in water, which can lead to blocked blood vessels and tissue damage. Additionally, sharing needles can lead to the transmission of bloodborne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.
Injecting any drug also carries the risk of overdose. Because the drug is delivered directly to the bloodstream, it can reach the brain more quickly, potentially leading to a dangerous increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Cocaine-associated Rhabdomyolysis (CAR)
Cocaine also potentiates platelet thromboxane production and decreases protein C and antithrombin III production, as well as the production and release of prostacyclin. In patients with dysfunctional endothelium, serotonin causes intense vasoconstriction because of its unopposed effects on vascular smooth muscle. With the multiplicity of physiologic and pharmacologic modifiers cited above, the literature reflects tremendous variability in the reported lethal dose of cocaine in humans. The range is as little as 20 mg IV, to a mean of 500 mg ingested orally, to 1.4 g. If psychostimulant-intoxicated patients do not die as a result of cardiac or cerebrovascular complications, it is essential to prevent further morbidity by controlling hyperthermia and treating rhabdomyolysis.
Alternatives to Injecting Crack
Tell them about any drugs you have used in the past two weeks and how you used them. It can be easy to mistake wound botulism for other, more common illnesses. Your doctor needs to know if you use injection drugs, so you can be diagnosed and treated quickly and correctly. And health officials say the reason people turn to crack over powdered cocaine is largely down to cost. “It’s a cheaper high,” says Robin Clark-Smith, an administrator at a needle exchange program at the Bridgeport Health Department in Connecticut, US.
If you or someone you know is struggling with crack addiction, there are safer and more effective ways to seek help. Treatment options include:
- Behavioral therapy: This type of therapy can help individuals identify triggers for drug use and develop coping strategies to avoid relapse.
- Medication-assisted treatment: Certain medications can help reduce cravings and prevent relapse in individuals struggling with addiction.
- Support groups: Joining a support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous, can provide a sense of community and a network of individuals who understand the challenges of addiction.
It is important to seek help as soon as possible if you are struggling with addiction. Treatment can help individuals regain control of their lives and improve their overall health and well-being.
