Can You Eat Crack Cocaine?

The short answer to this question is that yes, you can eat crack cocaine. However, it is unlikely that anyone would prefer this route of cocaine administration.

The main reason people use cocaine is because of the rush (increase in dopamine) a cocaine high gives them.

Eating crack does not provide the same rush and desired effects of cocaine, and in fact produces a much slower and weaker high, taking the enjoyable rush out of using cocaine.

Because crack is a highly addictive stimulant drug, it can be very important to a person using it that they get their next dose as quickly as possible.

For this reason, you are unlikely to find someone who is addicted to crack to be eating it.

What Happens When You Eat Crack Cocaine?

There is a good reason why you do not often hear about people eating illicit drugs — it is simply not an effective way of using drugs in order to experience the high from them.

With other methods of drug use, such as smoking or injecting, the crack reaches the brain very quickly. When a drug is eaten, however, it first has to pass through the digestive system, and this can take some time.

The usual intense rush associated with crack — which causes effects such as an increased heart rate and blood pressure — will instead take up to an hour to be felt and will come on slowly.

When the high is felt, it may be surprising or shocking to the person experiencing it, especially if they took a higher dose than they are used to.

Are The Effects Of Eating Crack Cocaine Different From Other Uses?

The effects of eating crack cocaine are similar to the effects of eating the powder form of cocaine.

Essentially, the high would be mild and slower to be felt as the crack would have to be digested first, but the cocaine would still be in the person’s system, affecting the body and brain.

When people eat white powder cocaine, this generally means spreading the cocaine powder on their gums and letting it absorb through the mucous membranes.

If someone were to do this with crack, nothing would happen, as crack needs something acidic to be able to dissolve.

How Crack Is Typically Used

Crack cocaine is essentially cocaine that was made to be smokeable, and smoking crack remains the most common and popular method of use. This is typically done through a glass pipe or stem, but there are homemade methods as well.

Crack can also be used by snorting or injecting, though these methods are less common.

Methods of use like snorting cocaine, smoking cocaine, or injecting all come with their own unique health risks and side effects, such as nosebleeds and collapsed blood vessels.

Eating Crack Can Lead To Cocaine Toxicity (Overdose)

Eating crack cocaine can be dangerous in that the high is mild and slow to start, so a person experiencing strong cravings is often tempted to keep eating more in order to feel something stronger and faster.

This same person might end up taking a fatal dose without realizing it, because they aren’t experiencing the high that they would expect to match such a large dose.

Unlike with an opioid overdose, there is no magic drug to reverse a crack cocaine overdose, and a person may find themselves faced with a heart attack, stroke, or sudden death.

Addiction Treatment Programs For Crack Cocaine Use

Cocaine abuse or a crack cocaine addiction can be very serious and requires immediate help before it completely takes over a person’s life and serious health problems arise.

Long-term effects of crack cocaine can lead to such health conditions as high blood pressure, heart-related issues, chest pain, withdrawal symptoms, and weight loss.

Fortunately, there are many effective treatment options available.

Treatment services for crack cocaine use include:

• medically monitored detox
• medication-assisted treatment
• behavioral therapy
• peer support
• day treatment
• inpatient treatment
• outpatient treatment
• aftercare support

Find Substance Abuse Treatment At Bedrock Recovery Center

At Bedrock Recovery Center, our treatment specialists are always standing by to answer any questions you have or to help you get started in a treatment program immediately.

An addiction to crack can be serious, and it’s important to seek help and medical advice for yourself or a loved one as soon as possible. Give us a call today to get started on your recovery.