Withdrawal from Crack: What to Expect
The withdrawal from crack process will begin once an addict undergoes a crack cocaine detox program. The crack cocaine detox program is crafted around each patient’s unique and specific needs, which are determined by an extensive mental and physical assessment. The assessments determine what type of crack cocaine detox patients will undergo, as well as which therapeutic modalities they will participate in.
Depending on the severity of the crack cocaine addiction, the detox process will last anywhere from a week to a month.
Crack Cocaine Withdrawal Side Effects and Symptoms
Once an addict being the detox process, they will experience crack cocaine withdrawal symptoms, which are uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable. The crack withdrawal side effects include irritability, anxiety, headaches, nausea, changes in appetite, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, seizures, heart attacks, strokes, tremors, hallucinations, depression and suicidal thoughts. These crack withdrawal symptoms will last for at least 72 hours. Addicts do not begin to feel normal until, at least, week four.
Crack Cocaine Withdrawal Stages
During the first two weeks of crack cocaine withdrawal, patients will experience hostility and impulsive behaviors; they may also feel moody, irritated and anxious. The positive withdrawal symptom during week two is an increased appetite. Crack cocaine can cause negative effects on physical health because it decreases appetite; however, during week two of the withdrawal from crack cocaine, patients will finally feel the desire to eat again.
Patients will also experience a sort of euphoric feeling during the crack cocaine withdrawal stages, specifically at week four. During this stage of crack cocaine withdrawal, they feel energetic and full of optimism which often causes them to think they can use again and have control over their addiction; however, this is the crack cocaine withdrawal stage that causes most addicts to relapse.
The crack cocaine detox is just the first step in the treatment of crack cocaine addiction; it takes a series of therapeutic modalities to really help addicts subdue their addictive behaviors in order to learn how to live their lives free from the dependence of stimuli.