![effects of crack addiction effects of crack addiction](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/slideshow/teen-drug-abuse-s3-addiction.jpg)
Other short-term effects of crack cocaine include: Each of these effects can result in sudden death for the user. Regardless of the amount or frequency that this drug is used, crack cocaine increases the user’s risk of having a heart attack, stroke, seizure, or respiratory failure. Furthermore, users that abuse this drug often don’t eat or sleep well and can experience an increased heart rate, muscle spasms, convulsions, paranoia, and feelings of anger, hostility and anxiousness. Because of this, many people that turn to this drug may be trying to avoid the extreme withdrawal symptoms experienced after the drug’s effects subside. Additionally, learning what the short and long term effects that crack cocaine can have on you may deter you from trying the drug in the first place.Ĭrack causes a very intense, short-term high immediately after use which is then followed by the extreme opposite- feelings of severe depression, edginess, and a craving for more of the drug. To avoid or mitigate the dangerous threat of addiction that this drug poses, it is imperative that you seek help immediately if you find yourself wanting to try this drug or already taking/abusing this life-threatening drug. Once addiction begins, however, the expenses for crack skyrockets as the user needs more and more of this dangerous drug to sustain their addiction. This is extremely worrisome for youth that try crack out of curiosity and immediately become addicted. In fact, crack was developed as a cheaper alternative to cocaine, which makes it more accessible and affordable to users. Furthermore, while cocaine has the reputation of being the “rich man’s drug” because of its high cost, crack is often sold at such low prices that even teens can afford to buy it. Crack is more highly concentrated and potent than cocaine and is found in crystal rock form while cocaine is found in both powder and rock forms. Main differences between cocaine and crack reside in the intensity of the drug being experienced and how the drug is found. Because of this, addiction can develop rapidly, even causing the user to become addicted after his or her first use. In fact, it is between 75% and 100% more powerful than regular cocaine. Crack cocaine, an extremely dangerous illicit drug, is the most potent form in which cocaine comes.