Crack Addiction

Q.) How does crack work?

A.) Crack works on the automatic nervous system. The automatic nervous system controls the sympathetic system which speeds everything up such as the heart and breathing. The autonomic nervous system also controls the para-sympathetic system which does the exact opposite (slows things down). This is why when people smoke the crack they get hyper. Crack works by one of the brains neuro transmitters releasing all the dopamine at once (dopamine is a chemical in the brain which releases feelings of pleasure. When we laugh a slight amount of dopamine is released and this makes you feel good). After this dopamine has been released, Crack can, in some cases, block the re-uptake of the dopamine. If this happens the person will now find it a mission to get any sort of pleasure.

Q.) What complications are associated with smoking crack during pregnancy?

A.) Crack and Pregnancy:

• increased incidence of still births
• increased incidence of miscarriages
• premature (often fatal) labor and delivery
• in males, the cocaine in crack may attach to the sperm causing damage to the cells of the fetus.
• babies exposed to cocaine experience painful and life threatening withdrawal, are irritable, have poor ability to regulate their own body temperature and blood sugar and are at increased risk of having seizures.
  

Effects of Crack on the Fetus:

• seizures or strokes
• cerebral palsy
• mental retardation
• vision and hearing impairments
• urinary tract abnormalities
• autism and learning disabilities