People who struggle with addiction know that one of the more challenging parts of detox is experiencing crack withdrawal symptoms.
Crack, the crystal rock form of cocaine, is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs in the world, and detoxing and recovery from its use should be supervised. Maneuvering this overwhelming obstacle is something many Americans struggle with. Thankfully, there is help available for those willing to receive it. The first step on your journey to recovery is to get the crack out of your body’s system entirely. Because crack is highly addictive, the withdrawal and detox process can be psychologically and physically excruciating.
Learn more about the detox process for crack below.
The Dangers of Crack Withdrawal and Detox
The initial phases of detox are incredibly difficult and dangerous, and the risks of relapse during this process are extremely high. Because of this, it’s best to detox under the care of medical professionals and their management. The symptoms of crack withdrawal are similar to the flu but can also be accompanied by adverse psychological effects. These symptoms might include, but are not limited to:
- Extreme cravings
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Anhedonia
- Mood disorders
- Nightmares
- Irritability
- and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts
These intense and overwhelming symptoms make detoxing from crack under medical supervision almost always necessary. The extreme desire to relapse during detox is alarmingly high, which can complicate the detox and recovery process; therefore, professional help and watch are required to succeed. Like other drugs, complete recovery and withdrawal can take weeks and even months to go away entirely.
It is unrealistic and dangerous for an addict to simply stop using because they need to be carefully monitored during detoxification. A user ready to break their addiction ought to stay at a trusted and experienced treatment center where their vital signs can be monitored, ensure relapse does not happen, and administer proper medication, such as beta-blockers anticonvulsants to reduce hypertension, seizures, and cravings. Moreover, an inpatient treatment center can also give an addict cognitive behavioral therapy throughout their road to recovery.
Why Home Detoxing Can Be Harmful
Because getting help for a crack addiction can feel daunting, many addicts opt to detox at home. Whether the reasoning is shame, desire to be in control, or finances, the truth is that detoxing at home is pretty unrealistic and unsafe — even professional treatment of crack addiction can be dangerous. Moreover, attempting to detox on your own can be immensely counterproductive.Â
With repeated use, an addict’s body has become accustomed to the influx of toxic chemicals and made necessary adjustments to live. When the usage of crack stops, it’s hard to know just how a body will respond. Without the close monitoring of trained medical professionals to make continuous assessments and watch how the addict responds to the lack of drugs, the risks are remarkably higher. More often than not, home detoxing ends in failure.
Contact Steps Recovery Centers
Going through the crack withdrawal and detox process is not only dangerous, but it is also incredibly challenging and overwhelming.Â
The path to recovery does not need to be walked alone. Contact the experienced and knowledgeable professionals at Steps Recovery Centers to help you during this difficult time and to make sure you are safe and healthy throughout the process. Because the response of detox widely varies from one person to the next, a tailored approach to recovery is necessary, and our medical professionals will customize a program just for you. For those seeking help in Salt Lake County, Utah County, and Washington County, the skilled staff at Steps Recovery Centers are there for you. Contact us for more information to get help today.
