Watch video
Testimonial
Follow The Canyon
Stay in touch with The Canyon on Facebook and Twitter. We love to be social. Come join us!Contact Us
If you prefer, fill out the following form and a counselor will get back to you.
Success Stories
The generosity of the staff and peacefulness of the surroundings has given me a serenity and safety I had never experienced before." - Don
News and Events
Click here to read "Addressing the Complexities of Chronic Pain," by Dr. James Gagne, an internist at The Canyon. The article was published in Marin Medicine Magazine. (This link is provided solely for educational purposes.)
Recent Articles
- Teen Hitman Is Drug Trade’s Latest Casualty
- Grey’s Anatomy Actor Eric Dane Seeks Drug Treatment
- Cocaine’s Colorful History
- Amy Winehouse Found Dead
- U.S. Military Cracks Down On Drug Abuse
- New Report: Cocaine Supply Cut With Flesh-eating Drug
- Does The Social Network Glamorize Drug Use?
- Welfare Drug Testing Debate
- Relapse Lies
- Drug War Woes
Physical and Psychological Effects of Crack Abuse
Crack's main course of action is to alter and work on the autonomic nervous system of the human body. In normal functions, the brain secretes dopamine, a chemical that, when bound to nerve cells in the brain, produces feelings of pleasure in the body. Dopamine production normally occurs naturally, but crack speeds up this natural system by causing the brain to release all of the stored dopamine in one quick burst. This produces feelings of intense pleasure and euphoria, but when things settle down, there is no dopamine left, and this state means a downswing of emotions and an intense desire to get more crack at any cost.
The Canyon provides crack addicts with the resources they need to break their addiction and come back to a normal, healthy life. To do this, our staff of therapists and physicians use a combination of traditional and holistic therapeutic options to help you recover physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Immediate Effects of Crack Abuse
Crack is most commonly smoked, which, due to the lungs' rapid absorption rate, means that more of the drug gets into the body faster than through injection or inhaling. When smoked, it takes about 20 seconds or less for feelings of euphoria and pleasure to start, but along with this quick high comes the downside: the happy feelings fade just a few minutes later and the resulting low can be dramatically dismal. The effects from both sides of this wave of pleasure/pain can include things like intense euphoria, grandiose feelings of power, paranoia, delusions or hallucinations and weight loss.
Physical Effects of Crack Abuse
Many of the effects that crack abuse has on the body are not just psychological, but physical as well. These effects can be as minor as dilated pupils and sweating to as severe as heart attack, stroke, increased heart rate and even, in some cases, death. There are also moderate physical problems such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and shortness of breath to contend with, and repeated crack smoking can lead to lung cancer.
Emotional/Psychological Effects of Crack Abuse
Crack also has effects on the psychological and emotional wellbeing of its users. While it can produce feelings of intense pleasure, these are short-lived and are replaced by negative feelings and emotions. Some of these include depression, sadness, paranoia and schizophrenic tendencies and hallucinations. A dependence on crack can also lead users to sell their personal effects or stolen goods to get money to buy more of the drug and can lead them to abandon family, friends and jobs, all in a pursuit of the next high.
Crack Rehab at The Canyon
At the core of our treatment program here at The Canyon's is our unique Healing Life Program, a holistic system designed to help you develop a positive relationship with yourself through the use of traditional and alternative therapeutic options. Along the way, you'll awaken an authentic relationship with yourself and be given the opportunity to reclaim your personal dreams and goals. Our complete treatment system at The Canyon helps patients deal with the physical, mental, emotional and psychological effects of addiction and provide you with the tools you need to make a positive recovery.
If The Canyon isn't right for you, we'll find the place that is.
Articles on Cocaine Rehab
- How to Recover From Cocaine Addiction
- Cocaine Overview
- Nicknames and Street Names for Cocaine
- Withdrawal From Cocaine Addiction
- Physical and Psychological Effects of Crack Abuse
- The Legalities of Crack Addiction in the United States
- Cocaine Addiction and Pregnancy: Effects on Newborns
- Short Term Effects of Crack Abuse
- Cocaine Addiction and Different Types of Treatment
- Family Members Who Need Cocaine Addiction Treatment
- Signs of Cocaine Abuse
- Crack Addiction
- The Physiology of Cocaine Detoxification
- Long Term Effects of Crack Abuse
- Detox from Cocaine Abuse
- Cocaine Abuse and Pregnancy
- Crack Addiction and the Brain
- Short Term Effects of Cocaine Abuse
- Long Term Effects of Cocaine Addiction
- Cocaine Rehab and Teens
- Crack Addiction and Abuse Risks
- The Dangers of Crack Addiction
- The Dangers of Cocaine Addiction
- Signs of Crack Abuse
- How Cocaine Addiction is Fueled in the United States
- Cocaine Addiction
- Why Does Cocaine Become So Addictive?
- Cocaine Addiction and the Brain
- Crack Overview
- Women and Cocaine Addiction
- How is Crack Different From Cocaine?
- Cocaine Addiction in the United States
- Cocaine Addiction and Abuse Risks
- The Physical Effects of Cocaine Addiction
- Cocaine Rehab in California
- Cocaine Rehab: What to Expect
- Inpatient Versus Outpatient Cocaine Rehab
- Cocaine's Effect on the Brain
- Cutting Cocaine
- Disappearing Dad
- Celeb DA Arrested On Drug Charges
- New Report: Cocaine Supply Cut With Flesh-eating Drug
- Cocaine’s Colorful History

