Signs of a Crack Addiction

Most people don’t think they will ever struggle with addiction, especially not a crack addiction. Addiction, in general, isn’t really at the top of people’s “When I grow up I want to be a…” list however, over the last few decades, addiction rates have been continuing to rise, and stimulant use continues to rise with it. Cocaine is a commonly used party drug, but what happens when a cocaine addiction turns into a crack addiction? What are some common signs to look out for? When is it time to get help? The Progression Every addict is different, but many of the people who I have talked to or heard stories from in the rooms of 12 step fellowships share that they first started experimenting with cocaine either in high school or college. The stories are usually along the same lines; it was brought to them by a friend or a friend of a friend, and it was usually a helpful little tool in helping to keep them sobered up so they could drink more. Some people don’t really mess with it much more than that, but others, like myself, discover a real obsession for cocaine. It is only once someone comes along to tell them that it is much more potent when smoked, that the beginnings of a crack addiction are formed. Cocaine is in fact much more powerful in terms of a “direct hit” when it is smoked rather than snorted, and it creates an entirely different feeling high. In this form, it is actually much more addictive because the highs are shorter lived. People become addicted to crack...