a woman wondering about the difference between crack vs cocaine

Crack Vs. Cocaine: Is One Less Harmful Than the Other?

Crack vs. cocaine, which is harder for you? Unfortunately, both are equally harmful. Crack is simply a form of cocaine, and there’s no real pharmacological difference between the two except for appearance and the way users take the drug. People inject, swallow, or snort powder cocaine, and they smoke crack. There is a difference, however, in how each form of drug affects you. Smoking crack gets you high faster, and the euphoria fades away more quickly. Possibly, for this reason, crack is usually more affordable than the powder form of cocaine. So when it comes down to the question of crack vs. cocaine, the best answer is neither. But if you’re currently using one or the other, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Tennessee can help you detox and recover. The peaceful and scenic Recovery Ranch in Nunnelly offers treatment for substance use disorders involving cocaine.

Why Does It Matter Which Form of Drug Is Used?

It matters because the crack form of cocaine is faster acting and wears off more quickly, increasing the chances of accidental overdose. It’s also much cheaper to buy. As a result, crack cocaine may be the worse offender. It’s also important to note that the legal consequences of being apprehended with crack in your possession holds a much stiffer penalty than possessing the powder form of cocaine. When looking at the age-old argument of crack vs. cocaine through these glasses, the answer is cocaine.

Crack Vs. Cocaine: Which Is Harder on the Body?

There isn’t much difference regarding crack vs. cocaine if you’re concerned with the repercussions on your body and mind. Both forms of the drug are harmful and are best avoided. Long-term use of either crack or cocaine leads to a generous list of ailments, including:

  • Loss of sense of smell
  • Chronically runny nose
  • Asthma
  • Heart and lung damage
  • Increased risk of stroke
  • Onset of Parkinson’s Disease

Both crack and cocaine have the curious side effect of desensitizing your brain to pleasure. As a result, people who use cocaine long-term may have trouble feeling pleasure in any other way. Naturally rewarding behaviors, such as eating tasty food or being in love, no longer produce the high they once did. Thus, users seek more and more cocaine to keep the good feelings going.

Cocaine Vs. Crack: Is Either Drug Deadly?

Cocaine vs. crack, both forms of this powerful drug can kill you. Today’s cocaine often contains fentanyl, a powerful opioid substance that’s cheaper than cocaine. In 2017, 14,000 people died in America as a result of a cocaine overdose. Sadly, this was a huge climb from the previous year. Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin. And when it’s cut into cocaine as a filler, users who have no tolerance to opioids can very well die. But even if your cocaine isn’t mixed with another lethal substance, death may still result. Over time, your body builds up a tolerance to cocaine, just like it does opioids. As a result, you need more drug to produce the same good feeling. People use cocaine because it’s a stimulant drug, and it makes them feel strong, alert, and powerful. Unfortunately, feelings of invincibility are short-lived, and users always ‘crash’ afterward. Cocaine users tend to binge, meaning they take the drug in cycles — injecting or smoking more once the initial feeling fades. This can lead to more drugs than your body can safely process. Taking too much cocaine too quickly may raise your body temperature to unhealthy levels, causing organ damage or death.

Treatment for Cocaine Addiction at Recovery Ranch

Cocaine vs. crack — both are highly treatable. At Recovery Ranch in Nunnelly, Tennessee, we’ll help you overcome substance use disorders that involve forms of cocaine by easing you gently through detox and onto the path of recovery. Recovery Ranch offers a wealth of reasons to admit yourself or your loved one for recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, including:

  • A peaceful, riverside setting
  • Sweeping vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains
  • Access to proven, evidence-based therapies
  • Caring and knowledgeable physicians and staff
  • Comfortable, upscale accommodations
  • Resort-level of care

When you choose Recovery Ranch for help to heal from cocaine addiction, you’ll experience a life-changing event. Call us today at 1.844.876.7680 for more information on how we can help you or loved one heal from a substance use disorder involving cocaine.

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