High doses can cause serious, life-threatening disorders, such as a heart attack or stroke.
The diagnosis can be confirmed by urine tests.
People who stop using the drug must be closely supervised because they may be depressed and they require much help to remain free of the drug.
(See also Drug Use and Abuse.)
Heavy regular users and people who inject the drug intravenously or smoke it are most likely to become dependent. Light occasional users and people who take the drug nasally or by mouth are less likely to become dependent.
Immediate effects
Overdose
High doses can impair judgment and cause tremors, extreme nervousness, seizures, hallucinations, insomnia, paranoid delusions, delirium, and violent behavior. People sweat profusely and the pupils are dilated. Very high doses can cause a life-threatening high body temperature (hyperthermia).
arrhythmiaheart attackkidney failure, stroke, and lung problems including difficulty with breathing and coughing of blood ("crack lung").
Long-term effects
Long-term users may develop tolerance, requiring more and more of the drug to get the same effects. Long-term use may damage the tissue separating the two halves of the nose (septum), causing sores (ulcerations) that may require surgery. Heavy use may impair mental function, including attention and memory. Chronic use can also damage the heart, causing scarring and thickening of the heart muscle and eventually leading to heart failure
Withdrawal symptoms
Did You Know...
A doctor's evaluation
Urine tests
Observation and monitoring until the person is sober
Sometimes sedatives for agitation, high blood pressure, or seizures
Psychotherapy (for addiction)
Emergency treatment
Detoxification and rehabilitation
depression, are treated with the appropriate drugs for those disorders.
More Information
The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.
Dual Diagnosis.org: Resource for those who have co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including access to the Foundations Recovery Network programs, which provide integrated treatment.
Inpatient.org: Access to inpatient rehabilitation programs for drug and/or alcohol addiction.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): A national mental health organization that provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness programs and services.
