Crack Withdrawal and Detox

Crack is notorious for its highly addictive nature, and even more intense withdrawal symptoms that become apparent after terminating the use of the substance. The inherent composition of crack is a derivative of cocaine, it is a blend of water, ammonia or baking soda and is smoked or snorted through nasal ingestion. One of the reasons that crack is so addictive is because it produces an even more intense high than traditional cocaine use. In 2012, almost 4.7 million individuals (aged 12 and older) in the US reported past-year use. With that being said, due to the prevalence of crack use throughout the United States, there are many routes available for individuals who are struggling with addiction to seek treatment. Individuals seeking treatment for cocaine withdrawal and crack detox can rest assured that there are many routes available that will help them towards the path of recovery Taking the first step to receiving treatment for crack cocaine withdrawal can be life-changing.

Crack Withdrawal Causes

The primary cause of withdrawal from the crack is essentially termination of use. The elimination of use can be done in two ways, through ceasing all use and enrolling in a detoxification program or by participating in a rehabilitation program that implements medically assisted therapy treatment (MAT). Signs and symptoms of crack withdrawal will widely vary from case to case and will be discussed in further detail below. Withdrawal symptoms from smoking crack and generally unpleasant and can vary in severity

Crack Withdrawal Symptoms

Crack cocaaine withdrawal symptoms can manifest in various ways through each person in recovery, longevity of substance abuse can have a direct correlation to the severity of symptoms that are experienced through each patient.

What are the symptoms of withdrawal from crack?

  • Extreme tiredness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Overall discomfort
  • Uncontrollable tremors, convulsions or shaking
  • Sweating
  • discomfort in muscles and joints
  • Changes in appetite, generally an increase in appetite
  • Night terrors or sleep disturbances such as insomnia are classic crack withdrawal symptoms
  • Depression
  • Increased anxiety, stress, and paranoia in some cases
  • Reduced physical activity and movement
  • Lack of concentration
  • Inability to retain information

Acute Withdrawal Symptoms

Crack cocaine withdrawal side effects can be both physical and physiological. The acute withdrawal phase is the initial stage of withdrawal for a patient in treatment, the length of time of this stage is approximately 48-72 hours in total, and the most extreme symptoms are experienced at this period. Patients who have a history of depression, co-occurring disorders, or polysubstance abuse are considered to be high risk and it is recommended that they are admitted into a 24/7 care program until the acute withdrawal phase is complete.

Classic symptoms related to Acute withdrawal might be:

  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Extremity in sleep patterns, nightmares or hypersomnia
  • Physical withdrawal symptoms from crack may include cramps in muscles, joints
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Increased perspiration
  • Intense cravings
  • Irritable mood and changes in behavioral patterns
  • Paranoia
  • Anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm and suicide might occur

Protracted Withdrawal Symptoms

Crack cocaine withdrawal effects are known to persist for several weeks and in many cases years after a person has terminated the use of all substances that were used regularly. While the termination of use may have been discontinued, an individual will likely experience changes in day to day life post-detox and rehabilitation that impact almost every aspect of their lives.

  • Modifications in cognitive function: this can mean changes inability to concentrate for long and short periods, completing more than one task simultaneously or the ability to stay organized with ease while experiencing Crack cocaine withdrawal effects
  • Memory: Since the inherent chemical compound of crack is a stimulant, it has a direct impact on the central nervous system which impairs cerebral function over time. Some patients will experience problems with the retention of information. This is an unfortunate side effect but with the implementation of behavioral treatment and recovery therapies, it is possible to reverse the damage and improve brain capacity.
  • Social aspects: Individuals who have been participating in the recreational use of narcotics are likely to have experienced changes in their behavioral patterns which impacted their social lives before treatment in one way or another. The feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or isolated are common.
  • Physical capability: Extreme use of stimulants is known to manipulate the body’s ability to work at its highest capacity, withdrawal symptoms may impact balance, coordination, and motor skills and level of fatigue.

Crack Withdrawal Timeline

Phase 1: “The Crash”

This is the period between 0- 72 since the last usage of crack and leads up to 3 days post use. During this time in the Crack withdrawal symptoms timeline the person in recovery will experience insatiable cravings, changes in mood patterns, heightened anxiety, and exhaustion.

Phase 2: “The Struggle”

This phase of the crack withdrawal timeline is the actual withdrawal. It takes place approximately through weeks 1 through 3 of the detoxification stage, during withdrawal it is not unlikely for a patient to experience night terrors, agitated behavior, mood swings. While traditionally, this phase lasts for several weeks, in some cases symptoms of withdrawal may continue for up to 10 weeks depending on each case. During the detox phase, the body is attempting to “reset” itself to its original function and capability before substance abuse.

Phase 3: Extinction or “The Honeymoon Phase”

In this phase of the crack withdrawal timeline, a patient in rehabilitation has terminated the use of all addictive substances for a period of 3 to 4, and this phase will continue for up to up to 6 months, while the patient is slowly acclimating to life without the use of prior substances. At this time, there will be a reduction in cravings, improved appetite, and positive changes in behavioral patterns and overall mood. During the extinction phase, there is a significantly noticeable improvement. However, it is important to continue to participate in behavioral therapy and recovery treatments to prevent relapse and work towards lasting recovery.

How Long Does Crack Withdrawal Last?

There is no exact answer to how long withdrawal symptoms will remain present for an individual in recovery. Factors such as length of use, age, weight, presence of more than one substance all come together to ultimately affect how long an individual will be in withdrawal. So once again,

“How long does crack withdrawal last?”

The average length of time one might experience physical symptoms can be 1 to 3 months for physical indications, in the case of psychological withdrawal symptoms, these may last for six months or a year post-rehabilitation treatment. Numerous studies have shown that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment, that is why the continuation of post-recovery behavioral therapy must remain consistent and stay abstinent from substance abuse. Here at St. Johns Recovery Place, we specialize in crack detox Florida as a top treatment provider.

Crack Detox for Treatment of Withdrawal

Crack cocaine detox consists of two basic steps.

Phase one:

  • The initial crack detox is the elimination of all traces of substance abuse, this type of detox can be conducted by enrolling in short term or long term rehabilitation programs.

Phase two:

  • In this part of the crack detox process, the patient will likely participate in arecovery program therapy. This can include individual or group therapy, as well as behavioral therapies to help improve thinking patterns and coping mechanisms for the future.

Medical Detox

For those who are not familiar with the term, medical detox is the concept of implementing alternative medications to ease the withdrawal process for patients in recovery. This type of treatment is more commonly referred to as medically assisted treatment or simply “MAT”. MAT is a widely used form of crack detox florida treatment that can assist in detox for almost every type of substance abuse. For the treatment of crack cocaine, it is less likely that medication will be used for a patient to “slowly taper” us of the substance, this is because it is more likely to cause heightened cravings.

However, medication is used to assist with the symptoms that are directly correlated to the withdrawal process such as

  • Sleeping problems such as insomnia
  • Increased depression
  • Anxiety
  • Intense cravings
  • paranoia which frequently occurs.

Medications that are used for the treatment of crack are antidepressants like Trazodone. Vistaril, Propranolol which helps to reduce all above symptoms and ease the withdrawal process along

Outpatient Detox

Outpatient detox treatment is a viable option for patients who are considered to be low risk; meaning, individuals who have limited complications in their medical history, no presence of co-occurring disorders and are not practicing the use of more than one substance in abuse. Crack withdrawal treatment via outpatient care can be conducted by admission to hospitalization partially and the ability to spend all nights at home under the care of family members. Another benefit of participating in outpatient care programs is that the cost might be more affordable for individuals who are experiencing budget constraints and are not able to take a leave of absence from their place of employment.

Detoxing at Home

While it is possible to self detox from crack by participating in methods such as “at home detoxes” and quitting “cold-turkey”. These methods of substance abuse termination are not advised and are extremely dangerous- especially for individuals who have underlying health conditions and mental health problems. An alternative to at-home detoxification is for a patient to participate in an outpatient treatment program.

How to detox from crack at home

If one chooses to participate in a crack detox at home it is highly recommended to consult with a licensed medical professional before commencing a detox program. At this point, a doctor can advise the best path to take for a detox, review medical history, and perform a physical examination and blood test to evaluate the patient’s current status before giving a green light to commence a self-detox program.

Finding a Crack Detox Center in Florida

With all of the treatment centers available in Florida, it can be difficult to choose a crack detox Florida rehab. Before completing the admissions stage and entering a detoxification program. There are a few important questions that should be asked.

  • Location: Close to Home or Far Away? Some patients prefer to conduct treatment close to home where they can see family and close friends throughout a program. In other cases, some prefer to be further away from home, free of distractions and have the complete ability to focus on healing and make a full recovery. It is imperative to conduct research before choosing a crack detox center in Orlando Florida
  • Cost of Detox: It is a common misconception that the cost of detox programs is not affordable for every budget, but that is not the case. Treatment centers do everything they can to make the process as easily accessible and affordable as possible. Options to help cover the cost of treatment might be through insurance coverage, payment plans through cash or major credit companies. In some cases, employers offer employee assistance programs to their staff to help cover the cost of treatment.
  • Effectiveness of Detox Program: It is imperative to inquire about the overall program rate of effectiveness.

What is the structure of the detoxification program?

Is there a balance of recovery therapies and behavioral treatments provided? What is the recovery rate for patients?

  • Staff to Patient Ratio:

How many patients are currently in treatment?

What is the average length a patient is enrolled in a treatment program at the center?

What is the average amount of staff that is on call each day?

Understanding Crack Withdrawal & Detox

The realization that rehabilitation is needed for yourself or a loved one, can be difficult. The first step towards a life free of substance abuse is realizing that there needs to be a change. Addiction is a disease and it has a way of finding ways to destroy lives and wreak havoc for years if one lets addiction win. There are so many options available for individuals in recovery to seek recovery for crack cocaine withdrawal. Once the decision is made to seek treatment for crack withdrawal and crack detox, there is hope for a future free of substance abuse.

References

  • Palamar, J. J., Davies, S., Ompad, D. C., Cleland, C. M., & Weitzman, M. (2015, April 1). Powder cocaine and crack use in the United States: an examination of risk for arrest and socioeconomic disparities in use. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4533860/#R46
  • Cocaine withdrawal: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000947.htm
  • Heilig, M., Egli, M., Crabbe, J. C., & Becker, H. C. (2010, April). Acute withdrawal, protracted abstinence and negative affect in alcoholism: are they linked? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3268458/
  • The cocaine withdrawal syndrome. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-toc~drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-3~drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-3-7~drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-3-7-cws#nat
  • Sinha, R. (2011, October). New findings on biological factors predicting addiction relapse vulnerability. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3674771/