Written by:

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Mateen Durrani – MBBS, DPM, MSc, BCPsych

Last Updated:

March 5th, 2025

Crack cocaine addiction

Crack is a powerful and addictive form of cocaine that is usually smoked. Once taken, the user will experience intense feelings of euphoria as the drug travels through their bloodstream and to the brain. The near-instant high is short-lived, leaving the user wanting more not long after initial use.

Crack cocaine addiction is rarely talked about by users; however, millions of people are affected by this drug every day. Crack addiction and abuse negatively impact not only the user but their loved ones too. In this page, we will explain the effects of crack abuse and how to recognise crack addiction.

Crack-Cocaine-Addiction-Man-Smoking

What is crack cocaine?

Crack is a solid, or “rock”, form of cocaine created by mixing water, powdered cocaine, and either baking soda or ammonia and heating the mixture resulting in a free-base form. This relatively easy production of crack, along with the immediate and potent high, resulted in its popularity soaring in the 1980s and has since led to millions of people suffering from crack cocaine addiction.

The name ‘crack’ is derived from the crackling noise the drug makes when it’s smoked. While the name crack cocaine is itself a slang term, there are other street names for the drug, including ‘hard rock’, ‘base’, ‘sugar block’, ‘candy’, ‘cookies’, ‘kryptonite’, ‘rock’, ‘jelly beans’, ‘nuggets’, and ‘apple jack’ amongst others.

Users usually smoke crack using a glass pipe with gauze (‘screens’) or using foil and a straw. Crack can appear as off-white, white, yellowish, or light pink chunks.

Effects of crack

Once inhaled into the lungs, the active components are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream resulting in a fast but short-lived high, typically lasting five to fifteen minutes. The brain is flooded with dopamine, leading you to experience intense feelings of euphoria, increased energy and alertness, and increased sensitivity to stimuli.

Alongside this comes a range of unpleasant, short-term effects, which include:

Temporarily decreased need for sleep
Dilated pupils
Constricted blood vessels
High blood pressure

Increased heart rate and breathing
Reduced appetite
Anxiety and agitation
Raised body temperature

Long term abuse can result in not only crack cocaine addiction but a number of health issues, damaging both your body and mind. Some of the physical risks of long-term abuse and addiction to crack include damage to the blood vessels, heart, reproductive organs, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, lungs, and brain.

Other moderate to severe side effects include:

Abdominal pain, nausea and ulcers
Aggression
Irritability
Malnutrition from lack of appetite
Increased risk of heart attack, seizure, or stroke
Reduced impulse control
Impaired memory

Extreme paranoia
Panic
Hallucinations
Psychosis or delirium
Organ failure
Heart attacks
High likelihood of overdose and even death

If you become addicted to crack cocaine, you may also experience impaired ability to make sound decisions and are therefore more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour. This exposes you to other dangers, such as contracting HIV or Hepatitis C.

Aside from the health risks, addiction to the drug also depletes personal finances and puts a huge strain on relationships. The overwhelming need for the drug may lead you to spend everything you have to obtain it, evening stealing from friends or family just to be able to buy your next hit.

Stages of crack addiction

Crack abuse refers to the continued and inappropriate use of the drug with the aim of experiencing a pleasurable high. Crack addiction, on the other hand, occurs after your body and mind have developed a dependence on the drug. Addiction is often linked to underlying emotional or mental health issues and can be propelled by both environmental and genetic factors.

The use of crack results in a dopamine spike, gradually leading the brain to shut down receptors. With prolonged use, you become less sensitive to the drug and will find yourself needing more and more to achieve the desired effect. Ultimately, users find themselves unable to stop because the brain has been “rewired”, and you will be unable to function without it.

Once the brain begins to rely on the presence of crack cocaine, you will begin to compulsively seek it out, spending everything you have to obtain it. When crack addiction takes hold, quitting the drug becomes difficult without professional help – even when you know it is endangering your health and wellbeing.

Everybody will experience crack addiction differently, but some of the stages you’re likely to experience are:

Panic stage

During this stage, you will become obsessed with sourcing crack cocaine. This may lead to illogical and desperate behaviours such as stealing, lying, or trading sexual favours for crack (or money to buy the drug). This stage typically occurs a few hours after a user last ingests crack.

Crash stage

Twenty-four hours after your last use of crack, you will experience a ‘crash’, which is characterised by feelings of depression, despair, and possibly even suicidal thoughts.

Honeymoon stage

Around two days after your last use of the drug, you may feel you’re overcoming the need for crack. This will lead to increased confidence and a greater ability to fend off cravings.

The return of cravings

Typically five to fourteen days since last using crack, your cravings will return. This is caused by the natural production of dopamine and serotonin in the body, making you crave crack in order to boost the production of these brain chemicals.

Emotional intensification

After fourteen to twenty-eight days (and in certain cases, up to two years), you’re likely to experience exaggerated responses to the trauma and stresses of everyday life. It is not uncommon for those with crack addiction to experience mood swings, anxiety, irritability, nightmares, and depression during this stage. Finding a support group is important, as well as having a healthy environment around you and engaging in physical activity and healthy eating.

Secret cravings

Twenty-eight to thirty-five days after your last crack cocaine consumption, you may experience some cravings. It is not unusual to experience a relapse at this stage. Relapse can lead to thoughts of guilt, so sticking with your recovery programme is vital.

Cue conditioning

From thirty-five days onwards, you could experience triggers or stressors that lead to cravings, for example, activities that you associate with the use of crack cocaine. A support plan can help you get through this period.

Recognising crack addiction

Recognising crack cocaine addiction is not always easy – oftentimes, the user hides it well, and it can manifest in a number of different ways. There are always, however, telling psychological, physiological, and behavioural changes in people who use crack.

Emotional signs

Emotional side effects can disrupt daily life and affect the user’s relationships and career. These signs may include:

Unnatural bursts of energy and excitement followed by dullness and loss of interest
Mood swings
Agitation and irritability
Paranoia
Hallucinations

Staying off the drug can cause obvious emotional signs as well, such as anxiety, restlessness, irritability, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

Physiological signs

The use of crack at any time can be dangerous and should be taken seriously. Common physical signs of crack abuse and addiction include:

Elevated heart rate
Insomnia
High blood pressure (hypertension)
An appetite which can be drastically suppressed or increased
Nosebleeds

Dilated pupils
Twitching of the muscles
Increased breathing rate
Burns on fingers or blistered and cracked lips from smoking pipes

When you choose to quit or stay away from the drug over a long period of time, you may begin to experience abnormally long hours of sleep, extreme fatigue, shakiness in the limbs and extremities, and irregular tremors.

Behavioural signs

One of the clear signs of abusing crack cocaine is changes in behavioural traits in the user. If you have a relative who you suspect may be abusing this drug, you’ll find the following behavioural signs present:

Volatile mood swings and aggression
Focusing more on crack use and forfeiting other responsibilities as a result
No longer meeting obligations
Failure to keep up with meetings and other normal social functions
Deteriorating interpersonal relationships
Engaging in risky behaviours such as theft to obtain crack
Intense discomfort and unease when the user has not taken crack for a while
Loss of interest in formerly enjoyed activities
Suspicious social separation

Treatment for crack addiction

Treatment for crack addiction typically involves a combination of medical support, therapy, and long-term aftercare. Detox is the first step, allowing the body to rid itself of the drug while managing withdrawal symptoms under medical care. Following detox, rehab programmes provide intensive therapy, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) or didactical behavioural therapy (DBT), to address underlying triggers and develop coping strategies. A structured treatment plan tailored to the individual’s needs is key to achieving lasting recovery.

Myths about crack cocaine

It takes a long time to become addicted to crack…

FALSE!

Crack cocaine is a highly addictive substance, and users can become addicted after just a few uses. Don’t hesitate to seek help straight away!

A drug addict has no willpower – if they wanted to stop, they could…

FALSE!

Drug addiction is a medical condition that chemically alters the brain. An addict will experience powerful and often uncontrollable urges to seek out a substance, despite being aware of the harmful effects it is causing.

Using crack cocaine once or twice is not a cause for concern…

FALSE!

Due to its extremely addictive properties, using crack even once or twice can be detrimental.

You’d be able to tell if a loved one is suffering from crack addiction…

FALSE!

Feelings of guilt and embarrassment are two things that go hand-in-hand with addiction, meaning that users often try to hide it as best they can. Those with crack cocaine addiction may be ‘high-functioning’, still going to work and operating day-to-day. Loved ones may only realise something is wrong further down the line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is crack cocaine so highly addictive?

Crack produces a rapid and intense high by affecting the neurotransmitters in your brain, namely dopamine. Dopamine stimulates the reward system, leading the brain to associate crack with pleasure. This positive association can quickly develop into dependency on the drug and structural changes to the brain.

Can a person die from crack addiction?

The risk of overdose from crack is high, with most cases of overdose resulting in seizures, organ failure, and sudden death if urgent medical help is not sought. Not only is the risk of overdose high, but crack users often engage in risky behaviour which increases their likelihood of contracting HIV.

How do you treat crack cocaine addiction?

If you are struggling with this drug, crack cocaine rehab and addiction therapy can provide you with the tools and skills to stay sober long-term and avoid relapsing. There are a number of different treatment options available depending on the severity of your addiction or your personal preference.