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Crack Addiction Treatment

Rehabilitative crack addiction treatment usually begins with a detoxification program to help patients gradually withdraw from harmful stimulants. Like many mind-altering drugs, crack produces a temporary euphoric feeling or "high," but also has an adverse effect on the physical body and psychological makeup of those who abuse it. Derived from mixing powdered cocaine with other substances, the drug crystallizes when baked in an ordinary oven. Solid sheets of the cocaine mixture are then "cracked" and sold to users on the street. The drug resembles small pieces of rock and is usually smoked through glass tubing or pipes to derive an immediate high and an addiction which is not easily overcome. Addiction may seem insurmountable, but professional counseling and the power of prayer may offer the key to recovery. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

The danger of smoking crack is that users are susceptible to coronary attacks, strokes, or death. Cocaine affects the sympathetic nervous system and constricts coronary arteries, causing spasms or blood clots which obstruct the flow of blood to the heart and have the potential to cause sudden cardiac arrest or irregular heartbeats. Side effects also include mild to severe psychological disorders, such as depression with thoughts of suicide, anxiety, impulsiveness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and an inability to concentrate. Users may display changes in personality, such as mood swings, irritability, or agitation, especially when cravings for the drug become unbearable. Smokers may exhibit slurred or rapid speech and chapped or burned lips from using glass pipes or tubing to inhale the drug. Crack addiction treatment may require using a holistic approach to rid users of chemical dependency and psychological trauma. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also warranted to facilitate healing.

Individuals enrolled in crack addiction treatment may assert that they were unaware of the devastating effects of chemical dependency. Smoking or injecting cocaine delivers a high dosage of drugs which stimulate the central nervous system and create immediate gratification; however just as quickly as the drug induces a high, it also produces a crash. Many individuals are unable to cope with the overwhelming need for a fix and will nearly sell their souls to obtain a small crystal of the drug, which can be purchased for the cost of a burger and fries. Chronic abusers soon find themselves on the low rung of the ladder of society, engaging in prostitution, theft, and debauchery just to get the next high.

The availability of street drugs like crack cocaine and their low cost make them particularly difficult to kick; and no one is immune. Users cross all socioeconomic strata, from college students and teeny-boppers to athletes and corporate attorneys. The illegal drug culture is a world of its own with hopelessness, defeat and degradation as its chief inhabitants. Users will resort to lying and begin to withdraw from friends or relatives in an attempt to hide the addiction. However, the resulting loneliness, isolation, and guilt can cause even greater depression; and many entertain suicidal thoughts to try to escape from the condemnation of chronic usage. Without medical intervention and crack addiction treatment, users are condemned to a life of subterfuge and psychological bondage.

Behavioral therapists that provide crack addiction treatment seek to discover the underlying cause of substance abuse by employing various methodologies. Some users may have become addicted in order to fit in with a peer group, while others may turn to drugs to cope with disappointments, deep seated fear, or rejection. Patients will begin crack addiction treatment by undergoing a battery of examinations to assess physical disorders, such as high blood pressure, anemia, or cardiovascular disease. Physical assessments will help doctors prescribe the right medication to begin weaning addicted patients from harmful drugs. Other health conditions present at the time of evaluation may be treated in tandem with a prescribed health care plan for chemical dependency. Doctors will address physical and mental health issues before placing patients on a five- to seven-day detoxification; and proceeding with treatment for other conditions under close medical supervision.

Detoxification rids illegal substances from a user's system and begins the first step in the process of restoring individuals to a normal mental and emotional state. Detoxification requires hospitalization for up to one week; and patients may be placed on intravenous fluids that essentially flush substances from the body. Once crack has been eradicated from the central nervous system, the body can begin to repair itself and become more receptive to prescribed medicines. Crack addiction treatment includes administering medications which help flush the body of harmful or mind-altering chemicals and toxins so that patients can respond mentally, emotionally and physically to more positive thought patterns. "Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Crack addiction treatment employs a holistic approach to mental health care, developing a comprehensive individualized plan for each patient relevant to specific behavioral patterns, environmental factors, and medical history. Therapies may not only involve prescribed medicines, but also private psychological consultations, group sessions, diet, and other behavioral modification techniques to address issues peculiar to each individual's addiction. The goal of group or individual psychotherapy is to discover the underlying cause for addiction and to retrain users to obtain gratification in ways other than abusing mind-altering substances. While cognitive behavioral therapy relies on individualized counseling, group sessions enable patients to verbalize innermost thoughts and actively engage with other patients. Counselors gently guide users towards greater self-acceptance and motivation to become fully integrated into a drug-free society. Following detoxification and psychotherapy, as part of treatment, users are encouraged to enroll in ongoing recovery programs. Those who actively participate may discover that they are not alone in the quest to be free of compulsive, drug-induced, or socially-unacceptable attitudes and habits.

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