Crack got its name from the crackling sound it makes when smoked.Ĭompared to cocaine, the “high” effect produced by crack happens much quicker and lasts considerably shorter than a cocaine “high.” When snorting cocaine, drug effects take anywhere from three to five minutes to be felt. CocaineĬrack starts out as cocaine powder that’s “cooked” to produce a crystallized, rock substance. Call 80 ( Who Answers?) to find help today. We can help you find treatment for crack addiction. Fortunately, there are a range of treatment options available to help addicts overcome the devastating effects of crack cocaine addiction. Without needed treatment, addicts continue on in a downward spiral of failing health and psychological dysfunction. Signs of crack cocaine addiction take shape early on with frequent use, affecting most every area of a person’s life. While crack does come from cocaine, its addictive potential far surpasses cocaine’s in intensity and rate of addiction. Crack cocaine essentially wears away at brain chemical pathways with continued use.Īccording to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 1.9 million Americans reported using cocaine on a regular basis in 2008, 359,000 of which were regular crack cocaine users. A drug’s addictive potential corresponds with the degree of damage it causes in the brain in terms of altering brain chemical functions. Compared to other addictive drugs, crack cocaine exists as one of the most addictive substances on the market.