High doses of crack cocaine can cause delusional thinking, paranoia or even acute toxic psychosis. Crack, the crystallized rock form of cocaine, is almost always smoked. It is affordable and offers an immediate and short-lived euphoric effect, thus it is highly addictive.
Cocaine is largely imported illegally from countries like Peru and Colombia. The prevalence of crack has made the drug more affordable and accessible for younger users and less affluent users.
Because the smoke is absorbed almost instantly through the lungs, crack poses one of the most serious threats to the physical body. Crack users are three times more likely than powder cocaine users to suffer brain seizures, and they also have an increased risk of emphysema. The effects of crack cocaine, which include restricted blood vessels and elevated blood pressure, make it more likely that crack cocaine users will suffer a heart attack.
Behaviorally, crack cocaine can lead to psychotic, hyperactive and violent actions. The drug puts others at risk of physical danger as much as the actual crack addict. When the effect of the high wears off, the user will experience a “crash” that may include such symptoms as depression, fatigue, fear and anxiety.
Other possible consequences of crack use include: Strokes, seizures and other neurological episodes
- Breathing disorders
- Insomnia
- Sexual inability
- Nausea
- Headaches
Crack cocaine use by pregnant women can cause premature birth, still birth, miscarriage, vision or hearing impairments and other developmental issues.