Staying Clean and Sober in The Everyday World

Since we studied the effects of alcohol yesterday I thought we would study the effects of “crack cocaine” today.  We will also touch on the withdrawal symptoms.  I went to my favorite resource to obtain some detailed information to give you (Wikipedia).  It would seem that I know as much from having been a “crack” addict as they do.  So today’s article will be based on “been there done that”.  It is factual in that I spent 4 ½ years as a heavy “crack cocaine” addict and the observances that I saw in myself and others around me.

First, let me clarify that “crack cocaine” is, without question, the most addictive form of cocaine as I know from having tried both.  Crack is made by combining powder cocaine, baking soda and water then cooking it.  I do not want to go into a whole lot of detail on that because this is not a “how to” article.  In it’s purer form it is produces an extreme state of euphoria.  When I use the term purer I am referring to the cocaine used.  Many dealers cut their cocaine with various substances in order to make more money.  These cutting agents cause their own problems which are too numerous to mention here and they depend on the agent used.  Personally I have seen many different substances that are similar in look and feel to cocaine and any number of them is used depending on the dealer and his own conscience. 

Back to the health risks, one major thing I have seen is what is referred to as a “crack hack”.  This is a hacking cough brought on after heavy and continual use.  This cough is caused by damage that is in the lungs from the inhaled smoke.  I am told that this damage is irreparable.  I do not know on that one but “with God all things are possible”.

Moving on, another effect is loss of weight.  This is caused from the intense desire to smoke in that a hard core addict will smoke first even when food is in front of them and by the time they have “come down” enough to eat the food is gone.  I went from 155 to 105 in a short period because I would not eat.  Some say I weighed even less than that.  I went from a 10 in women’s clothes to a 14 in little girl’s.  The desire for more “crack” takes precedence over everything.  Malnutrition is common among heavy user as a result.  This also brings on its own health risks.

Another health risks concerns lack of sleep and cleanliness.  As with the malnutrition the desire for more “crack” causes the user to stay up for days without sleeping.  I have fallen asleep on several occasions while standing talking with someone.  They would wake me up and give me some money and off to buy more “crack”.  Pure exhaustion eventually wins out and the user will pass out for long periods of time.  I slept 36-48 hrs. on several occasions after having been up for 5-7 days without sleep.

Uncleanliness (just being plain nasty) is another issue which is brought on because the addict does not have time to bathe.  The general consensus seems to be that bathing cuts into smoking time.  “I might miss a hit.”  Once the user becomes ”high” nothing else seems to matter until they start to “come down” and then the only thing that matters is getting back to being “high” and so the vicious cycle continues until something intervenes.  My personal something was God and I thank Him daily for His love in saving me from myself.

All of these things are risks to the addict’s health.  Withdrawal from “crack is quite simple actually.  Once an addict can not get to their drug, they simply sleep and eat for several days.  This is the body’s way of beginning the rebuilding process.  The mental addiction takes a bit longer because the brain does not easily give up its desire for that euphoric feeling.  I still have what are known as “crack dreams” 3 years after my last use.  These dreams involve me smoking or looking for “crack”.  I cope with them and am even grateful for them in that they remind me of how bad it really was.  On December 6th I celebrate 3 years of being clean from “crack cocaine” and I have enjoyed very much my recovery.