Result of crack abuse

Elevated blood pressure. Higher risk of heart attacks. More risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Increased risk of sudden death. Long-term crack use is also associated with ventricular hypertrophy which is an enlargement of the heart wall. Of course, this can lead to an increased risk of heart arrhythmias, heart attack, and congestive heart failure. Coronary atherosclerosis may also develop from long-term crack use.

Coronary atherosclerosis is the hardening of your arteries and spasms near these hardened areas can deprive the heart of blood, resulting in ischemic chest pain and, ultimately, myocardial infarction. Lung problems are a common long-term risk of crack use. Coughing up sputum.

Coughing up blood. Chest pain. More unusual lung complications that may result from long-term crack use may include: Pulmonary hemorrhage bleeding of the lung. Pneumothorax a collapsed lung. Pulmonary edema accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Thermal airway injury from the heated vapor. Pneumomediastinum abnormal presence of air in the space between the lungs. Air hunger is very distressing and can lead to panic attacks because it can make you feel as if you are suffocating or dying.

Depending on your method of using crack cocaine, long-term crack abuse can result in severe damage to the tissue and even the structure of your nose.

Snorting crack cocaine can result in nasal damage that may include: Perforated nasal septum a tear or hole in the cartilage bridge between your nostrils. Chronic rhinitis irritation and inflammation of the nasal tissue. Sinus infections. Ulcers in the throat. Nasal tissue death, due to the narrowing of the blood vessels and insufficient oxygen. Anosmia, or loss of smell. Nasal insufflation of all forms of cocaine can create holes in your nasal septum. At any time, this change can result in a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest.

A person abusing crack cocaine may leave behind tiny plastic bags with small off-white rocks of crack, or just a little residue of the drugs that were stored in the bag. There may be crack pipes around made of metal or glass. A person who has been smoking crack often has burned fingers or lips from holding onto the pipe while it heats up.

Crack cocaine effects do not last as long as powder cocaine, meaning that the user will need to disappear for another dose in as short a time as 10 to 15 minutes. A crack user is therefore always in need of more of the drug. This is one of the reasons that many crack users resort to crime. They have no other way to keep up with this constant need for crack. Women may turn to prostitution and men may turn to theft.

The person will have dilated pupils and a dry mouth. They may sweat and there will be little appetite. They will probably be restless and talkative. There will be too much energy for the person to sleep. They will be physically active. Some definite negative phenomena appear either coincident with drug use, or after use has been continued for some time. These phenomena include depression, isolation, defensiveness and paranoia.

There may be hallucinations and confusion. The person may think there are bugs crawling on his skin. Crack is classified as a Schedule II controlled narcotic in the U. The adverse effects of crack abuse are diverse and can affect both the physical and mental health of the addict. Here are some of the signs of crack use :.

Crack abuse can cause rapid addiction to the drug, and cocaine creates the most difficult psychological dependency of any drug.