Crack Cocaine
Cocaine administered by inhalation is absorbed almost immediately into the bloodstream, taking only 19 seconds to reach the brain. If you can imagine the experience of an almost immediate “mental orgasm,” then you can appreciate the value that crack holds to the user. Such immediate and intense stimulation of the brain’s pleasure centers results in an equally painful void left in the brain following the elimination of the drug from the body. Primary elimination is evident within approximately a half hour. The perceived positive experience “on” crack versus the grossly negative experience of being “off” crack is so different that a crack addict is literally compelled and compulsive in their desire to acquire crack cocaine and avoid the memory and experience without crack. Whether inhaled or injected, crack cocaine use is essentially abuse with cocaine. Crack use is effective suicide as the long term effect of crack is death.
Crack Use is Cocaine Abuse
Abuse of crack cocaine specifically means the self-inflicted maltreatment, injury, or damage to one’s person with crack. This includes the physical body of the addict and the social and/or financial harm that will affect this same “natural person” within society. It includes the family, friends, coworkers and congregation members who are likely victims and/or enablers of the addict’s abusive behavior. Among types of drug intervention, crack addiction can be one of the most difficult to treat.