For me, I was looking for the next level of getting high. I had done powder cocaine for years and my sinuses were shot and I was terrified of the needle, so smoking it was the next best thing. After a couple of times, I was off to the races and all those years doing powder were nothing compared to mentally, physical and emotional breakdown crack caused me. It painful to look at my demises in just a few short years. My advice to anyone who think they might be looking for something else to try, stay far,far away from this. It brings nothing but pain and heartache and empty pockets.

no... not everyone depends on personal preferences - just like food. Some people don't like the way they feel and don't get hooked. Other's are hooked the first time..

"not everyone depends on personal preferences - just like food."

-To liken drug addiction to a mere personal preference, like what kind of food one enjoys is obscene. HE asked for addict input. Are YOU AN ADDICT mgs1? Didn't think so...

Animal studies conclusively show that when administered cocaine, virtually 100% get addicted and will soon isolate and ignore any other outside stimulation in favor of pursuing their next fix. Eventually, only death brings relief as food and water become less than an afterthought. Believe it or not, a rat will even ignore their FAVORITE FOOD (cheese) in favor of coco loco!

No im not a addict.Just want to understand more.Some peole say once you do crack your hooked.I tried it,when i was 33 ,and that was the last time.Im now 44,and never did it since.a Few drags of weed now and then thats about it.Im happier just being straight most of the time,but thats just me.

i believe that coke is PSYCHOLOGICALLY much more addictive than it is physical, and tropper55 i believe that what happened is, you took a hit and all that, but you seem to be, on first impression, a fairly grounded person psychologically.

the people cocaine affects are those with some empty space in their life, who let this drug get ahold of them mentally; and when it works its way into your routine then you are fucked.

angelindisguise is correct though its a slippery slope. if you would have tried it while going through a divorce or some other trauma, you might be telling us this from the bed of a rehab clinic.

CIGS ARE the worst, they kill hundreds of thousands a year ... its as if they sold heroin at the gas station.

and i did not come here to judge but msg1 i agree with mimomo, you have some really stupid comments, you are not an addict and you should not comment on addiction.

For myself I prefer the needle! I have tried crack and it is a different high....I instantly had a headache! It lasted much longer than the needle but those smoking it around me were tweeking and jerking and doing all kinds of sugar dancing (cocaine insane dancing) just the same as the needle. So I stuck no pun intended with the needle. Snorting it in the long run is the same. It's all un healthy it all leads down the same path worn by many who are 6 feet under and many who are alive to tell and share there stories. Just as indivudual as the person is the using and the cleaning up! Then there is the real deal of living the way you wish to live with no other authorities above your own laws. (Just be legal) LOL I am talking about spiritual owness to your being. What is comfortable to you. Take you power and own it!
Sherose

I have never seen a successful crack user. By successful I mean people who did not lose things material or emotional that are important to them. The first time I smoked crack I didn't like it either. Ten years later I had lost my home and child and was shootimg crack because smoking it didnt get me high any longer. I hope you never try crack again. and yes cigs. are terrible I am trying to quit again but can't find any willingness.

Crack is a soul stealer at best. My husb. and I both became addicted to the drug for 4+ years. But the addiction affected us differently. He would use intimidation, stealing, lying, sneaking to get it. I didn't want the drug around but he would get so angry that I would give him the money, give him the ride to the dealer's house, fussing at him the entire time that it was our bill/gas/grocery money. But then when we would get home, I had to have it. He was willing to go on the never ending hunt but I wasn't. But if I was anywhere around it, I went along to get along. I had to have it. While he was incarcerated, I never touched the stuff. Didn't want to. I got our finances back in order, kept the mortgage paid. I have never really understood how I managed to stay clean. I never went to meetings. I just quit. I think husb. was hooked the 1st time he smoked it because he hid it from me for 6 months before he brought it home and asked me if I wanted to try it. I didn't get a buzz the first time or two but something about it makes you think the next hit will be the one to "blow the back of your skull off". I have never known anyone that tried crack that didn't get addicted.
I'm glad you're asking questions about it. If it's never touched your life it's easy to sit in judgement of "crackheads" because we lose so much due to being addicted. You have friends that you're trying to understand why they're addicted. I don't think I'll EVER know WHY I became addicted, I just did. The hardest question to answer is "why".

To bdelevan.Dont agree with you at all.I have every right to comment on addiction.Look at my profile addiction fro my x makes all the diffrence on my knowledge quest on addiction.My life was nearly ruined because of her addiction,and because of this i feel i have every right to comment.And nomatter what you or anyone else thinks thats just too bad.I have been hurt and thats why i am seeking knowledge.And i will continue to do so. I dont think your last comments are fair to me.Anyone has the right to comment on this topis especially if it effects them too.

ps dbeleven.My comments are no more stupid than yours are thats for sure.

I personally appreciate any opinion that is helpful to the growth and knowlegde of addictions and mental health issues. Addiction affects so many in different ways! Any opinions that allow education and help the cycle begin to end for me is a welcomed addition to my education and personal experince. Tropper you have helped me see through the eyes of those who have watched me spiral downwards, sideways and right side up! Even though, I have been on both sides watching friends pass on because of this drug your story helps! I also been the one paranoid in the closet with my stash! Can there ever be enough questions? Without them the possible solutions are not shared or worked out! By the way quitting ciggies was a difficult one for me too and my partner! But successful and smoke free today! Back to the topic of cocaine, I have seen individuals while on my path try a line, or a hit, or smoke crack for a night and that was it for them! They never touched again....Same with other drugs...or during exams I watched people speed out to stay awake and then leave the drug after. Then there are those like me (sick individuals who had a lot of baggage) with no adult coping skills....fight or flight reaction. Survival skills learned at an early age. For me abuse addictions and self esteem (body image) ED all are linked. My partner who I did not know while he was using "he is (23)yrs clean", said he was shy and kept to himself...he was a serious alcoholic and drug user and heavy pot smoker for 10 years which has damaged some of his memory (he thinks)LOL. He is only now starting to work on the why's he used. He has been white knuckling a lot of years. Now through therapy and all his "isms" = I self and me's along with reading and his own way of self evolution he is feeling safer about things. We are not perfect and well, that is no goal of mine.
But awareness is!
namaste'
Sherose

tropper you made a mistake!!!

i was talking to msg1, read more carefully.

"and i did not come here to judge but msg1 i agree with mimomo, you have some really stupid comments, you are not an addict and you should not comment on addiction. "

i was not talking to you i was trying to HELP you. and WHY are my comments stupid????

READ the post before going off, dude.

db

"no... not everyone depends on personal preferences - just like food. Some people don't like the way they feel and don't get hooked. Other's are hooked the first time.."

THIS is the comment i was talking about, genius.

hEY SORRY ABOUT THAT.I MADE A MISUNDERSTANDING I AM TRUELY SORRY .I THOUGHT YOU WERE FERRERING TO MY POST.DU TO ME. THANKS FOR CLEARING THAT UP GUY.HOPE YOU FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE.AND THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT....bob