Luxury Crack/Cocaine Rehab Alternative Treatment Program

Cocaine comes in two different chemical forms. The first is a powder form of hydrochloride salt which can be snorted or dissolved in water to be injected. The other form is known as “crack”. Crack is a cocaine base that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. This form of cocaine comes in a rock crystal that is heated to produce vapors, which are inhaled. The word “crack” refers to the crackling sound that is produced from the rock as it is heated.

Cocaine 'Addiction 'Effects

The more direct the cocaine is released into the bloodstream, the stronger the high. The physical effect that cocaine can have on a body is constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. In rare occasions, abusers have died of cardiac arrest or a seizure followed by respiratory arrest. Some short-term effects of using cocaine are euphoric, energetic, talkative, mentally alert (especially to sound, sight, and touch), and a decrease in the need for food and sleep. The negative effects are paranoia, violence, extreme mood swings, and the constant need for money to fund the very expensive habit. The high from snorting cocaine can last between 15 to 30 minutes where the high from smoking crack can last between 5 to 10 minutes. Some users report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety, especially after the high is gone. Long-term effects may include chest pain, nausea, blurred vision, fever, muscle spasms, convulsions, coma and sometimes even death.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

The withdrawal symptoms include; anxiety, insomnia, and overall discomfort. But cocaine is not a physically “addictive” drug, however, the span of time immediately after the high is gone can be fraught with depression and severe anxiety or panic attacks. Long term users say that although it no longer produces the same intense “high”, they still have trouble staying away from it.

Physical detoxification is not necessary for the use of crack and or cocaine. However, a doctor consultation is recommended when making a decision about physically removing oneself from any drug.

Cocaine History

Cocaine was derived from a plant called coca which was discovered in the 16th century by the Spaniards in South America. The Spaniards then tried to bring the coca plant leaves to Europe but the leaves lost their potency during the long period of time at sea shipping them from South America. Because of the shipping problems, nobody took a great interest into the coca leaves, until 1859 when an Italian neurologist wrote and published an essay about the coca plant. His essay consisted of how much pleasure and happiness he received from the plant. A year later, Albert Nieman, a German student, took the coca plant leaves and produced what is now called cocaine hydrochloride. By the 1880s, cocaine was beginning to be used for medical purposes, especially for local anesthetic surgery. Sigmund Freud, a physician and famous psychiatrist, began using cocaine himself in 1885. He also used cocaine on his patients and encouraged family and friends to use the stimulant as well. He finally became aware, over a period of time, of the side effects the drug produced. He realized he was abusing the drug and he immediately stopped using the drug on himself and his patients. Many physicians began using cocaine and became substance abusers themselves. Dr. William Halstead, a surgeon and founder of the John Hopkins medical school, became an abuser of cocaine. Dr. Ernst Von Fleishi began having hallucinations from the drug and ultimately died from cocaine poisoning. Cocaine abuse continues to be a problem in our society. In the span of 1965 to 1967, 0.7 percent of youths used cocaine and from 1970 to1980, the rate increased to 2.2 percent of youths abusing cocaine. That rate increased to 2.7 percent by the year 2002. It has since leveled off and is beginning to decline.