Crack Cocaine Side Effects

Many adverse side effects can be associated with the use of crack cocaine.  In the short-term, side effects may include things like dilated pupils and increased heart rate, while long-term crack cocaine effects include dangers such as malnourishment, seizures and gastrointestinal problems.  In addition to the physical effects of crack cocaine abuse, many psychological effects also arise from the use of this dangerous drug including paranoia and anxiety.

Short-Term Effects

Crack cocaine side effects include many different effects that are short-lived, often lasting merely minutes or just a few hours.  The short-term side effects of crack cocaine use include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heartrate and temperature and euphoria.  The euphoric effects of crack cocaine usually only last 5-10 minutes and then the user will experience the sudden crash that is so widely associated with cocaine addiction.  During the crash, the

crackuser will feel depressed, tired, and irritable and will usually seek additional crack cocaine to “boost” them back to their euphoric state.

Often times, individuals who smoke crack cocaine will have burns on their lips, hands or fingers.  There may also be black marks on their fingers from the ash that builds up after prolonged use of crack during a binge.  It is not uncommon for individuals who are addicted to crack cocaine to binge on the drug, going days at a time without eating or sleeping.

The more quickly the crack cocaine is absorbed into the bloodstream, the faster the individual will get “high” but this also determines how quickly the user will “come-down” as well.  Various other short-term effects of crack cocaine use include loss of appetite, restlessness, anxiety and paranoia.  Most of these effects will quickly dissipate once the user is no longer smoking crack.

Long-Term Effects

Various long-term crack cocaine side effects exist including extended paranoia, aggressive behaviors, gastrointestinal problems and malnourishment.  Smoking crack can also cause long-term abdominal pain, headaches and seizures.  Another one of the long-term crack cocaine side effects is depression which is also a very common side effect for many types of drug abuse.  Fortunately, although crack cocaine does have many long-term side effects, most of them will heal and repair over time if crack is no longer used.

Physical Side Effects of Crack Cocaine

The most common physical side effects of crack cocaine include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cold sweats
• Restlessness
• Nervousness
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Seizures and convulsions
• Loss of appetite
• Malnutrition
• Lung damage

Psychological Side Effects of Crack Cocaine

The most common psychological side effects of crack cocaine include:

• Depression
• Paranoia
• Anxiety
• Impulsivity
• Euphoria
• Hyper-alertness
• Loss of Inhibitions
• Compulsive behavior
• Terror of impending death
• Delusions

Crack Cocaine Effects on Pregnancy

Many crack cocaine side effects pose significant dangers to pregnant women and to the unborn fetus.  Crack has the following side effects on pregnancy:

• Premature labor or delivery which is often fatal to the baby
• Increased incidence of miscarriage or still birth
• Seizures
• Unborn babies who are subjected to crack cocaine exposure are born with life threatening withdrawal symptoms and may have difficulty regulating their own body temperature
• Many babies who are exposed to crack suffer from cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or other disabilities as a result of the cocaine exposure
• Autism and other learning disabilities are common in children who are exposed to crack cocaine while in utero