What If Your Child or Loved One is Already Using Cocaine?

ON THIS PAGE

Cocaine and Crack

Cocaine and crack may both be sold in very small plastic bags or vials. Powdered cocaine is a fine, white powder that numbs the tongue if it is tasted. Crack cocaine comes in small off-white, irregularly shaped rocks.

Powder cocaine is usually snorted but can be dissolved and injected. It is occasionally ingested but this can lead to serious and even fatal digestive problems. Crack cocaine is smoked for an instantaneous high. You may find tiny spoons or scoops, syringes or small glass pipes that look burnt and coated with residue. There may be tightly rolled dollar bills or straws used to snort the drugs.

Physical and Mental Effects

• Rapid onset of effects with a short duration.
• Excitement, stimulation, delusionally amplified senses of confidence and self-worth, unusually increased energy, loss of appetite, awake for long periods, unusually focused.
• Dilated pupils. Dry or cracked lips (when smoked). Frequent rubbing of nose (when snorted).
• High-dose use can result in aggression, panic, suicidal or homicidal tendencies. Paranoia and hallucinations may also occur, especially after binges of cocaine use.
• Long-term snorting of cocaine can lead to a loss of the sense of smell, sinus infections.
• Long-term smoking of cocaine can lead to lung damage that causes chest pain, breathing problems and fever.
• Termination of use may be followed by depression and intense fatigue.

The effects of powder cocaine last a very short time, around a half hour or a little longer. People will often binge on this drug if they have enough money, staying up for days until they finally hit a physical crash or run out of the drug.

Cocaine: What You Need to Know

Cocaine is destroying lives. Don't let it destroy yours or someone you love. Get the vital facts about cocaine.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Crack cocaine lasts an even shorter time, between five to ten minutes. Crack cravings are some of the strongest of any drug. This is what makes this drug so highly and quickly addictive. A person addicted to crack needs more of the drug throughout the day. This often leads to criminal acts to keep the drug coming — assault, prostitution, robbery and the like.

A person abusing cocaine will usually disappear every once in a while to restore the high.

Determine if he (or she) is addicted by checking these points.

Has he or she:

• Tried to quit or promised to quit and then returned to cocaine use?
• Suffered damage to health?
• Been arrested once or more than once for DUI, DWI or drug possession?
• Been arrested for crimes he (or she) committed to get money for cocaine or other drugs?
• Suffered serious damage to family life?
• Suffered severe financial damage or ruin?
• Overdosed once or more than once and needed emergency medical help?
• Abandoned goals or educational plans?
• Suffered significant personality changes that could include aggression, paranoia, dishonesty or loss of motivation?
• Created suffering for those around him due to neglect, physical or mental abuse?
• Been seriously affected by cocaine use in other ways?
• Already been to rehab one or more times and relapsed every time?

We're here. We're ready to help you.
Call us at 1-800-737-5250 to get help now. or learn more about the Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program

This is only a very brief test. But if these signs are present and the person has continued to abuse cocaine, it is very likely that addiction exists. This person may only be able to get sober with help from an effective rehabilitation program.

When a Person Needs Help

At some time or another, nearly every family will have to deal with the addiction of one of their members. It could be an uncle that seems half-drunk at every family celebration, someone who lost everything to prescription opiate addiction or a loved one who has been using cocaine. It is important to know how to find this person a lasting solution.

The kinds of changes that must occur to recover from addiction include:

• A person must find relief from the incessant, intense cravings that make sobriety difficult or lead to repeated relapses.
• He (or she) must overcome the depression that accompanies addiction.
• He must gain more self-control and recover his clear perception of his world.
• He must also find relief from the guilt that results from addiction.
• He must regain a sense of morals and personal responsibility.

A thorough detoxification followed by life skills training enable a person in a drug rehab program to see things in a whole new light so they can live an enjoyable, productive life again. This is the way the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program works. The goal of the Narconon program is a drug-free individual.

You can locate a Narconon drug rehab program here or call now for help.