Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine is usually smoked but can also be injected.  Immediate effects are euphoria, weightlessness.  Secondary effects are paranoia, heavy breathing.

Crack cocaine is a very addicting drug. It is not easy just to put it down and never go back again. It’s a drug you must get help for. The cravings will continue to increase and if the user continues to use the amount of crack cocaine needed to get the same high is greater.

Our drug rehab facility has successfully treated hundreds of crack cocaine addicts.  Our success rate is one of the highest in the country at 76%.  If you or a loved one is plagued with addiction it’s never to late to get help.

Drug paraphernalia

 This law maker in Miami is right.  Getting drug paraphernalia out of the convenience stores is a good place to start in dealing with the addiction problem.  Along with paraphernalia there are the crack, marijuana and methamphetamine dealers lurking around the store.  The next stop for many of these customers is jail or addiction treatment.  Cleaning these places up will make neighborhoods safer too.

“TALLAHASSEE — A reformed crack addict-turned-lawmaker is targeting the instrument of his affliction: the glass pipe.

This session, Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, has been rallying support to pass a bill that could take bongs, water pipes and maybe hookahs off tobacco store shelves. It cleared its last Senate committee this week.

“You know how people say there’s nothing like a reformed smoker or reformed addict?” Rouson said. “I’m dedicated to freeing communities of substance abuse, and these shops seemed like a good place to start.”

Narconon of Georgia offers drug education and rehabilitative services for anyone who is suffering from addiction.  To break the cycle of addiction in your life or the life of a loved one, our intake counselors will help make the transition into drug rehab comfortable and efficient. 

Join the 76% who are now living life drug free because of Narconon of Georgia.

Source

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/10/1572623/lawmaker-pushes-ban-on-drug-paraphernalia.html#ixzz0koXNC5RL

Recognize Crack Addiction

Cocaine Drug Addiction Facts

Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug (following marijuana) in the United States. According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 34 million Americans (14.7%) age 12 or older had used cocaine at least once in their lifetime.

“While coca leaves have been used for centuries by natives as a stimulant,” comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director of The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia,”Cocaine, however, which is a derivative of the coca leaf, has been abused for decades. Cocaine drug addiction can be devastating to the drug addict, as well as the family members surrounding them.

“Don’t let cocaine addiction ruin your life or those around you. Learn the facts.”

Origins of Cocaine

Cocaine, the most potent stimulant of natural origin, is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca), which is indigenous to the Andean highlands of South America. Natives in this region chew or brew coca leaves into a tea for refreshment and to relieve fatigue, similar to the customs of chewing tobacco and drinking tea or coffee.

Pure cocaine was first isolated in the 1880s and used as a local anesthetic in eye surgery. It was particularly useful in surgery of the nose and throat because of its ability to provide anesthesia, as well as to constrict blood vessels and limit bleeding. Many of its therapeutic applications are now obsolete due to the development of safer drugs.

Use of Cocaine

Illicit cocaine is usually distributed as a white crystalline powder or as an off-white chunky material. The powder, usually cocaine hydrochloride, is often diluted with a variety of substances, the most common being sugars such as lactose, inositol, and mannitol, and local anesthetics such as lidocaine. The adulteration increases the volume and thus multiplies profits. Cocaine hydrochloride is generally snorted or dissolved in water and injected. It is rarely smoked because it is heat labile (destroyed by high temperatures).

Crack Cocaine

“Crack,” the chunk or “rock” form of cocaine, is a ready-to-use freebase. On the illicit market, it is sold in small, inexpensive dosage units that are smoked. Smoking delivers large quantities of cocaine to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. Drug effects are felt almost immediately, are very intense, and are quickly over. Once introduced in the mid-1980s, crack abuse spread rapidly and made the cocaine experience available to anyone with $10 and access to a dealer. In addition to other toxicities associated with cocaine abuse, cocaine smokers suffer from acute respiratory problems including cough, shortness of breath, and severe chest pains with lung trauma and bleeding. It is noteworthy that the emergence of crack was accompanied by a dramatic increase in drug abuse problems and drug-related violence.

Effects of Cocaine

The intensity of the psychological effects of cocaine, as with most psychoactive drugs, depends on the dose and rate of entry to the brain. Cocaine reaches the brain through the snorting method in three to five minutes. Intravenous injection of cocaine produces a rush in 15 to 30 seconds, and smoking produces an almost immediate intense experience. The euphoric effects of cocaine are almost indistinguishable from those of amphetamine, although they do not last as long. These intense effects can be followed by a dysphoric crash. To avoid the fatigue and the depression of coming down, frequent repeated doses are taken. Excessive doses of cocaine may lead to seizures and death from respiratory failure, stroke, or heart failure. There is no specific antidote for cocaine overdose.

*Source: DEA.gov

For more information on drug rehab, cocaine drug abuse, or drug education, call The Atlanta Recovery Center of Georgia at 1-877-236-3981.

Dexedrine Drug Abuse

What Are Stimulants?

The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia explains what stimulants are and the effect they have on the person abusing them.

“Education is the best tool we have to fight drug addiction,” states Director Mary Rieser, The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia. “The more information we have, the better chance we have of making the right choices. Too many children start using drugs because they think it’s cool and don’t know the dangers they are facing. Don’t let drug addiction occur because of ignorance.”

Effects of Stimulants

Stimulants, sometimes referred to as “uppers,” reverse the effects of fatigue on both mental and physical tasks. Two commonly used stimulants are nicotine, which is found in tobacco products, and caffeine, an active ingredient in coffee, tea, some soft drinks, and many non-prescription medicines. Used in moderation, these substances tend to relieve malaise and increase alertness. Although the use of these products has been an accepted part of U.S. culture, the recognition of their adverse effects has resulted in a proliferation of caffeine-free products and efforts to discourage cigarette smoking.

Illegal Stimulants

A number of stimulants, however, are under the regulatory control of the CSA (Controlled Substances Act). Some of these controlled substances are available by prescription for legitimate medical use in the treatment of obesity, narcolepsy, and attention deficit disorders. As drugs of abuse, stimulants are frequently taken to produce a sense of exhilaration, enhance self esteem, improve mental and physical performance, increase activity, reduce appetite, produce prolonged wakefulness, and to “get high.” They are among the most potent agents of reward and reinforcement that underlie the problem of dependence.

Stimulants are diverted from legitimate channels and clandestinely manufactured exclusively for the illicit market. They are taken orally, sniffed, smoked, and injected. Smoking, snorting, or injecting stimulants produce a sudden sensation known as a “rush” or a “flash.” Abuse is often associated with a pattern of binge use–sporadically consuming large doses of stimulants over a short period of time. Heavy users may inject themselves every few hours, continuing until they have depleted their drug supply or reached a point of delirium, psychosis, and physical exhaustion. During this period of heavy use, all other interests become secondary to recreating the initial euphoric rush. Tolerance can develop rapidly, and both physical and psychological dependence occur. Abrupt cessation, even after a brief two- or three-day binge, is commonly followed by depression, anxiety, drug craving, and extreme fatigue known as a “crash.”

Effects of Stimulants

Therapeutic levels of stimulants can produce exhilaration, extended wakefulness, and loss of appetite. These effects are greatly intensified when large doses of stimulants are taken. Physical side effects, including dizziness, tremor, headache, flushed skin, chest pain with palpitations, excessive sweating, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, may occur as a result of taking too large a dose at one time or taking large doses over an extended period of time. Psychological effects include agitation, hostility, panic, aggression, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. Paranoia, sometimes accompanied by both auditory and visual hallucinations, may also occur. Overdose is often associated with high fever, convulsions, and cardiovascular collapse. Because accidental death is partially due to the effects of stimulants on the body’s cardiovascular and temperature-regulating systems, physical exertion increases the hazards of stimulant use.

*Source: DEA.gov

For more information on drug rehab, stimulant drug abuse, or drug education, call The Atlanta Recovery Center of Georgia at 1-877-236-3981. ]]> http://atlantarecoverycenter.com/categories/press-release/stimulants-cocaine-speed-methamphetamine-info/feed/ 0 http://atlantarecoverycenter.com/categories/press-release/recognize-cocaine-crack-addiction/ http://atlantarecoverycenter.com/categories/press-release/recognize-cocaine-crack-addiction/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:07:43 +0000 Atlanta Recovery http://atlantarecoverycenter.com/?p=1433 The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab Educates on Signs of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a crystalline white powder; crack is a drug that looks like small white rocks of chalk.

Would you be able to tell if someone is on cocaine?

Recognize Crack Addiction

What about crack?

The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia is teaching parents and anyone interested on the signs of cocaine abuse and cocaine addiction. Drug addiction is something that no one wants, and by the telltale signs of cocaine abuse, tragedies may be avoided. Parents and family members need to be aware of what the signs are:

If, when looking around the house, or in clothes, you find very small plastic baggies with a white crystalline powder or residue, this is probably cocaine.

Both crack and cocaine can be stored in the corner of a plastic baggie which is then tied off or knotted. Matchboxes and cigarette packs are a favorite place to hide baggies of cocaine or crack.

Crack Addiction Pipes

Drug paraphernalia associated with cocaine or crack usage:

•    Discarded syringes, spoons hidden with burn marks on the bottom, residue in them indicate drug use (cocaine can be injected.)
•    Glass stems, brillo pads, stripped wires, and disassembled tire gauges are used to smoke crack.
•    Soda cans, bent, with a little holes in an indentation indicate a homemade pipe.
•    Baking soda is used to make crack, and small mirrors or smooth surfaces with white residue on them such as countertops, sinks, cd cases, etc indicate cocaine snorting; credit cards or razors are used to make the lines to snort.

Physical Appearance Indicating Cocaine or Crack Usage:

•    If you notice someone sniffling a lot, this possibly is from cocaine snorting, as the drug wears out the lining of the nose and their nose will be raw and red and scabbed.
•    Injection marks in the arms, knees and feet indicate injections.
•    Crack will often burn the lips of the person smoking it, so burns on the face or hands indicate crack usage; also the person’s finger and thumb will have black calluses where they flick the lighter repeatedly to smoke.

The personal appearance is also a giveaway.
•    A person on cocaine will usually have glassy eyes and very, very large pupils.
•    Dark glasses may be used to hide this condition, even indoors.
•    The person will have a hard time relaxing, and will be hyper, moving erratically, being nervous, aggressive, or irritable.
•    The person may have trouble sitting still, and with the acceleration up of their metabolism, may stay awake for extended periods of time, only to crash and sleep for days.
•    The person may be very thirsty and have “cotton mouth”.
•    They will usually stop eating and become very thin.
•    Their skin tone is bad, they may have their face broken out, blisters on their face, and nose and mouth chapped.

The person may go around asking others for money. They will continually be short on cash, spending their rent money and entire paychecks for the drug. When they run out of money, they will often pawn valuables to get more.

For more information on drug addiction rehabilitation or drug education, call The Atlanta Recovery Center of Georgia at 1-877-236-3981.

Would you be able to tell if someone is on cocaine? What about crack?

Cocaine Abuse

The Atlanta Recovery Center is teaching parents and anyone interested on the signs of cocaine abuse and cocaine addiction.  Drug addiction is something that no one wants, and by the telltale signs of cocaine abuse, tragedies may be avoided. Parents and family members need to be aware of what the signs are:

If, when looking around the house, or in clothes, you find very small plastic baggies with a white crystalline powder or residue, this is probably cocaine. Both crack and cocaine can be stored in the corner of a plastic baggie which is then tied off or knotted. Matchboxes and cigarette packs are a favorite place to hide baggies of cocaine or crack.

Drug paraphernalia associated with cocaine or crack usage: Discarded syringes, spoons hidden with burn marks on the bottom, residue in them indicate drug use (cocaine can be injected.) Glass stems, brillo pads, stripped wires, and disassembled tire gauges are used to smoke crack. Soda cans, bent, with a little holes in an indentation indicate a homemade pipe. Baking soda is used to make crack, and small mirrors or smooth surfaces with white residue on them such as countertops, sinks, cd cases, etc indicate cocaine snorting; credit cards or razors are used to make the lines to snort.

If you notice someone sniffling a lot, this possibly is from cocaine snorting, as the drug wears out the lining of the nose and their nose will be raw and red and scabbed. Injection marks in the arms, knees and feet indicate injections. Crack will often burn the lips of the person smoking it, so burns on the face or hands indicate crack usage; also the person’s finger and thumb will have black calluses where they flick the lighter repeatedly to smoke.

The personal appearance is also a giveaway. A person on cocaine will usually have glassy eyes and very, very large pupils. Dark glasses may be used to hide this condition, even indoors. The person will have a hard time relaxing, and will be hyper, moving erratically, being nervous, aggressive, or irritable. The person may have trouble sitting still, and with the acceleration up of their metabolism, may stay awake for extended periods of time, only to crash and sleep for days. The person may be very thirsty and have “cotton mouth”. They will usually stop eating and become very thin. Their skin tone is bad, they may have their face broken out, blisters on their face, and nose and mouth chapped.

The person may go around asking others for money. They will continually be short on cash, spending their rent money and entire paychecks for the drug. When they run out of money, they will often pawn valuables to get more.