Crack detox helps addicts though the difficult physical and emotional withdrawal process. Due to the intensity of the cravings, agitation and anxiety, many people require inpatient crack detox to keep them away from the drug and become stabilized. This detoxification process generally takes several days with the patient requiring a great deal of rest, good food and nutritional supplements to manage their withdrawal symptoms. Ideally, once crack detox is complete the recovering person will continue their recovery process at an inpatient addiction treatment program.
Next to crystal meth, crack is probably the most addictive drug yet devised. Crack cocaine users need more and more crack to attain the same high and avoid the intense "crash" or depression that follows their high. They become physically and psychologically dependent on crack, which often is a result of only a few doses taken within a few days. To balance off the intense lows, crack users often use other drugs. Most people with crack addictions require admission to a drug rehab in order to detox from crack.
It takes great courage to ask these questions. To help you find the answers, take a moment to ask yourself:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you or someone you know may have a serious problem with crack cocaine. Conquering crack addiction is simply not a do-it-yourself activity. Lots of people with past addictions to crack cocaine are successfully clean today, but they got there only through help from professionally-run crack detox programs and continued care once detox was complete. Of course, there are other important ingredients for beating addiction, such as comprehensive drug rehab, counseling, therapy, and support groups, but detox is where recovery begins.
During crack detox one experiences numerous withdrawal symptoms. Crack withdrawal symptoms will vary based on the length and intensity of drug use, as well as the addict's own body composition. These withdrawal symptoms may include but are not limited to feelings of agitation, depression and an intense craving for the drug. In crack detox there may be extreme fatigue or anxiety, with periods of angry outbursts. Sometimes the person experiencing withdrawal from crack addiction will have a lack of motivation and often feelings of nausea with vomiting, shaking, irritability, muscle pain and disturbed sleep. Some recovering addicts may experience physical pain or even suicidal thoughts during detox. This is another reason why doing a crack detox program under the care of well-trained, licensed professionals is so important; it's for your own safety. Detox for crack cocaine usually lasts between three and five days.
Crack detox, while at times difficult, is the door that leads the way to recovery. The difference between the despair-filled life of an addict and what you'll experience with sobriety is nothing less than night and day. We know that if we can help ease you through crack detox, you will have succeeded in completing your first step toward long-term drug addiction recovery.