Can You Overdose on Crack?

Get Answers on ODing from Crack Cocaine and Support Options

In 2023, there were roughly 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States. For individuals and families affected by any form of substance use or addiction, overdose is a very valid and serious fear. This is especially true given that the majority of drug overdose deaths are unintentional.

Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada helps people overcome addiction through an individualized and evidence-based approach to treatment. We work with people from all walks of life and take almost all types of insurance. Additionally, we treat all types and levels of substance addiction, including crack cocaine addiction.

Different drugs come with different rates of involvement in overdose. So, can you overdose on crack? What increases your chances of overdosing on crack, and how can you avoid it?

This article will answer those questions.

We will also discuss the signs of crack overdose and how to avoid it, including how treatment can help.

Can You Overdose on Crack Cocaine?

Yes, you can overdose on crack cocaine. Statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) say that drug overdose deaths involving cocaine increased by 73.5 percent from 2019 to 2022. Overdose from crack cocaine can occur at any time, even for frequent and experienced users.

As for why it’s potentially fatal, the first thing to know is that crack cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant. Any stimulant drug will speed up your body systems, including your heart or cardiovascular system. As you can imagine, this is why the drug gives you energy, but it’s also why it can cause serious adverse health effects.

In many cases, crack overdose symptoms are rapid, meaning that their onset is fast. This can result in sudden death, often from complications such as a heart attack. The National Library of Medicine states that, even though cocaine can negatively impact all parts of your body, the most lethal effects of the drug are on the cardiovascular system.

Crack Cocaine vs Powder Cocaine

If you are concerned about crack overdose specifically, you may wonder if there is a difference between cocaine and crack cocaine. Crack cocaine is a particularly potent variation of cocaine. It also looks different from powdered cocaine, taking the form of “rocks.”

Made by dissolving powdered cocaine with water and baking soda or ammonia, smoking crack delivers a large quantity of the drug to your lungs. This results in a quick and intense high.

What Increases the Risk of Crack Overdose? 3 Factors at Play

Several factors can increase the risk of crack cocaine overdose. Knowing what factors contribute to a higher risk of crack cocaine overdose is essential if you or someone you care about currently uses the drug.

Here are some of the main factors that can make it more likely for a person to experience a crack cocaine overdose.

1) Polysubstance Use (Combining Multiple Drugs)

In 2022, almost half of drug overdose deaths involved multiple drugs. Some people who use crack cocaine combine it with other drugs, increasing the risk of overdose and death.

Some people think that mixing a stimulant like cocaine with a depressant (e.g., alcohol) will mean that the drugs cancel each other out, but this is not the case. Mixing depressants and central nervous system stimulants could result in an unexpected overdose.

2) Consuming Crack Laced With Other Drugs

Even if you do not purposefully or knowingly take another substance with crack cocaine, it may be laced with another drug. In turn, using crack as you normally would could lead to an unexpected overdose.

3) Personal Physical Health and Related Factors

Body size and other factors can affect how much crack it takes for a person to overdose. The same is true for other substances. Similarly, those with certain existing physical health conditions, such as heart problems, may have an increased risk of mortality.

The Most Recognizable Signs of Crack Overdose

Crack cocaine overdose can result in death and other adverse consequences. Knowing the signs of a crack overdose is important if someone in your life uses the drug and could potentially save a life.

Crack overdose symptoms may include but aren’t limited to the following.

• Chest pain
• Heart attack or stroke
• Rapid heartbeat, elevated heart rate, or high blood pressure
• Respiratory distress (e.g., fast breathing or difficulty breathing)
• Elevated body temperature (some may experience severe sweating)
• Psychosis, hallucinations, or paranoia
• Disorientation or confusion
• Loss of urine control
• Restlessness
• Seizure activity

Some people also experience other crack overdose signs, such as bluish skin. If crack cocaine is mixed with other drugs, additional symptoms may occur.

Cocaine and crack overdose constitute a serious medical emergency. Crack overdose symptoms can have a rapid onset. Calling emergency services and seeking immediate medical attention is imperative if you notice the signs of a drug overdose.

How to Avoid Crack Cocaine Overdose

If you are currently using crack, there are some things you can do to avoid overdose. One of the main things you can do to avoid crack cocaine overdose is to test the substance before you use it to ensure that it is not cut with any other drugs, like fentanyl.

Using fentanyl test strips to check for fentanyl in cocaine is a form of harm reduction. Fentanyl strips are low-cost, and you may be able to find an organization in your city or state that provides them. Harm reduction saves lives and is highly recommended if you are currently experiencing drug abuse.

Ultimately, seeking recovery services and ceasing crack use is the best and only way to definitively avoid crack overdose. Professional help can also help you avoid the other possible effects of crack cocaine use and addiction.

Our programs help clients learn effective coping skills to use on a daily basis. Crack detox and addiction treatment removes you from your current everyday patterns and triggers and can help you or your loved one get a fresh start.

Our Effective Treatment Options for Crack Addiction

Not all cocaine rehabs are the same. It is vital that substance abuse treatment centers provide trauma-informed care, have proper accreditation, and treat each client as an individual.

Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada’s team is trauma-informed and here to help you or your loved one heal.

We are a fully licensed facility, and our staff members work carefully with every client to create a customized treatment plan.

Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada offers multiple levels of care for people facing crack cocaine addiction and other types of substance abuse, including detox, inpatient, and outpatient treatment programs. The full continuum of care offered by our facility lets us accommodate people at all stages of their recovery journey.

Getting Help for Dual Diagnosis Conditions is Crucial

Our treatment center also addresses co-occurring mental health issues that might affect you alongside drug or alcohol addiction. For example, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Research encourages dual-diagnosis treatment for people experiencing addiction and one or more other mental health disorders.

We accept nearly all types of insurance, so it is very likely that your or your loved one’s insurance coverage can help cover the cost of treatment.

Contact Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada today to inquire about how we can help you or the person in your life who is in need of addiction treatment for crack or cocaine use. If you have a loved one who is resistant to getting treatment, we may be able to help them work through any concerns or barriers they’re experiencing.

Call Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada for Crack Treatment and Recovery

Crack cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug. Anyone, including people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, can experience crack cocaine addiction.

Our experienced mental health and medical professionals are here to help you or your loved one overcome crack cocaine addiction and avoid serious consequences such as overdose.

Please call Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada’s confidential admissions line to get in touch with our team today.

FAQs About Crack Overdose

How much crack cocaine can cause an overdose?

How much crack it takes for a person to overdose depends on multiple factors. First, frequent crack users may have higher tolerance levels. In turn, they may be able to tolerate more of the drug without experiencing overdose symptoms.

Mixing crack with other drugs means that a person using the amount of crack they typically use, however, could be unexpectedly fatal. Remember that other substances can be mixed with crack without you knowing it just by looking, as they could be invisible.

What happens when you go to the emergency room for a crack overdose?

Upon seeking medical attention for crack overdose, the emergency department will likely administer tests and medication treatments for cocaine toxicity. Medical testing will reveal your prognosis and provide medical professionals with the information necessary to decide on the next steps.

Some people survive a crack overdose, but many do not. While people who survive crack overdose can have lasting consequences, getting help for crack addiction is vital and can change or save your life.

What are the signs of crack cocaine addiction?

Many people use cocaine or crack cocaine for effects such as intense euphoria. However, the drug’s effects wear off quickly, which can result in frequent use and extreme ups and downs.

Common signs of crack cocaine addiction may include but aren’t limited to the following:

• Extreme weight loss
• Using more crack than before (increased tolerance)
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation or using more crack to avoid withdrawal symptoms
• Mood swings
• Personality changes
• Unexplained financial problems
• Increased energy
• Secretive behavior

Crack cocaine is a “cooked” or processed form of cocaine. Whereas typical powder cocaine is white, crack cocaine looks like small rocks. Sometimes, family members, friends, or romantic partners of a person smoking crack cocaine will find crack cocaine or drug paraphernalia (e.g., pipes) in their loved one’s home, which is another sign that they may be struggling with addiction.

What are the other risks of cocaine abuse?

In addition to potentially life-threatening drug overdose, cocaine abuse may result in renal failure, cocaine-induced rhabdomyolysis, and heart problems. Gastrointestinal problems and brain damage can also occur–these are some examples of possible lasting consequences of using the drug.

Sometimes, the effects of cocaine abuse you experience depend on how you consume it. For example, smoking crack cocaine can result in lung damage, shortness of breath, or worsening symptoms of asthma.

On the other hand, snorting powder cocaine can lead to nosebleeds, loss of smell, inflammation, and other specific effects.

In any case, it is worthwhile to note that using cocaine will always come with risks.

References

1. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240515.htm
2. https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3978/index.htm
3. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
4. https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/polysubstance-use.html
5. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000946.htm
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430976/
7. https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/safety/index.html