Crack cocaine may not make news headlines the way it first did in the 1980s, but crack is still very much present in South Carolina. It can show up in small towns, bigger cities, and even in rural areas. You may not hear about it every day, but crack’s impact can be deeply personal and painfully real for the people living through it.
If you’re in residential recovery in North Charleston or trying to find your way there, learning the roots of crack might be useful as you begin your healing journey. But what exactly is crack, why is it so hard to walk away from, and how does it show up in the Palmetto State? Here’s a breakdown:
- To produce crack, manufacturers cook a mix of powdered cocaine, baking soda or ammonia, and water to form hard chunks called “rocks.” Crack users smoke the rocks for a fast, intense high.
- Crack’s high is short, and the sudden rush it provides can often leave people chasing the feeling again and again, which can quickly lead to dependence.
- Crack use often connects to violent crime. Like many people who suffer from substance use disorder SUD, crack users might feel driven to commit crimes to feed their dependence. Other people suffer exposure to crack sales and violent gang-related activity by chance or when forced to live in neighborhoods where crack is present.
Maybe you’ve dealt with crack first-hand, or you’re watching a loved one struggle with it. There is good news: across the U.S., crack trafficking cases have dropped nearly 45% between 2019 and 2023. The progress can be uplifting, but many people could still be in dire need of residential care and an uplifting recovery community, as crack continually shows up in nearly 5% of federal drug trafficking cases.
A Broader History of Crack Cocaine in the United States
We know that crack is still here today, but you might wonder how it got that way. Crack began to show up in major U.S. cities back in the early 80s. The crack epidemic spread fast, especially in underserved communities where economic struggles, unemployment, and lack of access to care could leave people especially vulnerable to dependence. Crack was also cheap. With all these mixed factors, crack could have started as a way to escape pain or make quick money, but it turned into something much harder to walk away from:
- Many individuals, especially in areas with few job opportunities, turned to crack as both an escape and a livelihood.
- Some earned money from crack sales that supported their families, often without realizing the long-term cost.
- As competition over sales grew, violence escalated as sellers fought to protect their territory. Communities became more fractured, and recovery became harder to access. Crack didn’t just affect individuals—it reshaped entire generations.
The Long-Term Harms of Crack Use
Crack’s long-term harms can sneak up slowly or hit all at once. And if you’re struggling to stop, it’s not because you’re weak. Crack changes the way the brain works, making it harder to think clearly, navigate relapse warning signs, and find joy again. But knowing what’s at stake with long-term crack use might help you or someone else curb or control their dependence, especially with support from a Cameron-based intensive outpatient program (IOP) for crack.
Here’s what long-term use could do:
- Cause heart damage, even if you’re young or otherwise healthy.
- Bring on a stroke or seizures.
- Weakens your immune system, making you likelier to develop pneumonia and infections like hepatitis C or HIV.
- Over time, crack can dull your memory, slow cognition, and intensify stress.
- Crack can increase your chances of developing depression, paranoia, or mood swings that strain your relationships.
One of the hardest parts about crack is withdrawing from it. Common symptoms can include intense migraines, extreme fatigue, and even emotional crashes. These symptoms don’t mean you’re broken or you’ve made the wrong choice by opting for medically assisted detox with Waypoint Recovery. We’re equipped to make this necessary process as comfortable and supportive as possible.
Is Recovery From Crack Possible in North Charleston, SC?
Absolutely, but recovery today means more than just staying away from crack. It means learning to live without using substances to cope, rebuilding trust in your ability to live a fulfilling life, and finding tools in individual therapy to face a world that might feel like crack is no longer an issue. We can support you at Waypoint Recovery. Contact us today to get started.
