Giving to charity, giving in a blood drive, these are things that are important and can lead to helping someone in a life-changing way.  So can helping someone who is addicted to crack.

A crack addict is in danger of literally killing himself.

A crack addict is in danger of literally killing himself.  He cannot logically think, instead he is completely under the spell of his addiction and constantly needs a fix.  He does not care who it hurts, not intentionally, but because it has taken over every part of his senses.  * Crack is a horrible addiction, it literally destroys people.

* A crack addict would steal and not think twice about it. So do you walk away, do you give up?  Or do you take the matter in hand and realize that underneath that addiction is a person who once dreamed of being an artist or having a family, a person who once desired to own a lake cabin, a person who would have (and did) give the shirt off his back many times for a homeless person before succumbing to crack addiction.

” People die every day from drug overdoses and from physical problems that are a result of addiction.  If you know someone who is a crack addict, the most important thing you can do is help him or her to seek help.  The satisfaction you could get from that, could mean wonders. “

* It is that way also for those who decide to go into drug counseling.

Sometimes it is a personal experience involving a family member, sometimes even their own experience as an addict.  The satisfaction a person gets from helping a crack addict is unlike any.  It is the epitome of customer service.  You enjoy holding the door open for a person who has their hands full leaving a store, right?  Imagine helping someone to change his life, to save his life as he stops using the drug that is sure to one day kill him.

“ There is no greater satisfaction in life than helping to save someone else’s and helping someone who is a crack addict is definitely in that category. “

* If you think you might feel like that is your calling, do some research.

Talk to a school counselor, talk to counselors at a treatment center. Your heart is in the right place and you would not only get satisfaction out of helping crack addicts, you would be getting and giving a gift unlike any you have ever experienced.

It may not be obvious at first just what it is, but there is something that is different about the person. With Crack, unless we actually see them when they are high, it may be very difficult to tell. There are signs to watch for, however, that may give a good indication that crack addiction has taken over the loved one.

If money suddenly begins disappearing and no one seems to know where it goes, this may be a warning sign. This is particularly true if more and more money comes up missing. Most drug addicts start out using a small amount of crack but as their system builds up a tolerance to it, they need more. More crack takes more money and crack isn’t cheap. If they also begin writing bad checks and borrowing money from friends and loved ones, it is a big warning sign.

Crack House

* Big changes in normal routine can indicate trouble as well.

If the loved one starts missing work or disappearing for no reason then it may be because they are in search of crack. It could also be that they are frequenting a crack house. Some crack addicts become very solitary and others hang around in places like crack houses.

Since most drug addicts keep paraphernalia kits, usually next to their beds or on their person, obviously finding things like glass pipes, brillo pads or baggies with crack would tell you instantly that there is a problem. Like most addicts, crack addicts like to have a hit first thing when they wake up so often, their drug kit is right next to the bed while they are asleep.

Other things that are common with crack addicts are; nervousness, insomnia or excessive sleeping, convulsions, cold sweats, being extremely talkative, depression and anxiety. Normally with crack, the moods go from one extreme to another. They may come home being very talkative and excited and even talking about some grand adventure they want to undertake. Shortly thereafter, they will be irritable and argumentative.

* Whenever you suspect there may be crack abuse, speak up.

The addict will most likely deny it but they will then know that you are suspicious. Drug addicts like to thing their behaviors while on drugs go unnoticed. Let them know that you do see what is going on.

If the person has not been addicted very long, maybe it will be easier to talk to him or her and get him into a program, perhaps even an outpatient one.  However, if the person has been on it for awhile, there may be a big problem with denial and it is best to seek the advice and counsel of professionals.

An intervention is a good way to go with a crack addict and doing so with a professional on hand is important.  The atmosphere could be a bit tense as denial and honest evaluations are given and loved ones express their feelings.  Having someone close by who is familiar with such an environment can make the difference between a successful intervention and a stormy family feud.

Handling a crack addict is something that should very well be done by professionals. Call today for help!

Support is needed for the one dealing with the crack addict as well and there are support groups for family members.  It is strongly encouraged that you go to one if you are dealing with a crack addict as you are sure to have emotional feelings going up and down.

Caution should also be taken if the crack addict has a problem with his temper during any withdrawal time which is part of why a residential treatment program would be encouraged for someone who has been on crack for awhile.  As this is a drug that definitely alters the brain, it is important to have treatment in an environment where the detoxification can be done safely.

Because a crack addict’s body and brain only knows that he needs more crack in order to “feel good”, it is also important to make sure money and credit cards are kept away from him. Often the person could resort to stealing and pawning something.  It is really important to get help immediately when you suspect a loved one of being a crack addict.

* Unfortunately, crack is one of the few drugs that a person can take constantly.

Just as someone chain smokes, person addicted to crack constantly can take crack, more and more, and yes, more again.  It is cheap and it is dangerous and it feeds upon the psychological and physical need of the person addicted.

Handling a crack addict is something that should very well be done by professionals so please seek help from a center close by and they will make sure you have a counselor on hand when you confront the crack addict that you love.

There is another unit who can often feel that same way; the family of a crack cocaine user.  If the family has never experienced such a spiral of helplessness, it may be confused and unsure of where to turn.  The family may feel ashamed, embarrassed and may desperately need support, such as another family unit going through or having gone through the experience would understand.

People who do not have a crack cocaine addict in their family may not understand the true ramifications of such a lifestyle.  The truth is that sometimes a person’s addiction is harder on the family than on the addict himself.  He may simply shoot up again to forget the pain and reality of his situation temporarily; his family, however, has to deal with it without the “luxury” of forgetfulness.

If you are a family member or significant other of a crack cocaine addict, the best thing to do for yourself is locate a support group.  Communication with others who have been where you are allows you to express your own emotions and realize that you are not alone in this nightmare you have unwillingly found yourself in.  There will be those in the support group who can give you advice on steps to take that can possibly save you from financial ruin and criminal litigation, something you may not have thought of in the long run.

Just being able to have a place to go and express your fears, your anger, your tears, can make a lot of difference.  Support for the family of a crack cocaine addict is not something to be taken lightly as it is a very real problem in society and has long lasting residual ramifications for the parents, spouses, siblings and children of the addict.  In order to help your addicted family member, you are going to find yourself in need of support as you wade through the flood waters of addiction.  You find yourself unsure of what to do and feel as if you are drowning.

* A support group helps you so that you in turn can help your beloved family member.

There is no shame in a support group so you are able to communicate with each other freely and honestly which can lead to wonderful advice and steps for recovery; not only for the addict but for your entire family.  Just as there are steps involved when a drug addict seeks help, so there are steps for the family to fully recover as well.  A support group helps your family do just that.

Every human being is capable of love to one degree or another. The problem is, with a crack cocaine addict, his or her addiction will get in the way. You must understand the psychology of an addict. Nothing is more important to them than their drug. While they may have deep feelings for a person, that will be shoved aside to make room for their need for drugs. This is true whether the addict has been in a loving relationship for years before becoming an addict, or is an addict embarking on a new love interest.

If you are already in a relationship with someone who has become an addict, try to get them help.

Most people have heard that drugs not only affect the addict, but everyone they care about as well. If an addict will destroy a relationship that has lasted for years, it is probable that they will destroy one that is new. Things may be great when they have had their fix but when they are searching for it, things will not be pretty and nice. Most loved ones of addicts confess that when their addict needs a fix they can be not only mean, but on occasion, violent. They are unpredictable. Only one thing matters to them and that is getting more drugs.

Can a crack cocaine addict love another person? Yes, I believe they can but they do not have the ability to correctly display and recognize that love, let alone act on it. No matter how much they may care for another person, it is not going to be enough to overcome their need for the drug. It is not going to be enough to overcome their foul moods and/or violence when they need the drug. Being addicted to drugs is all encompassing. It affects their mind, body, mood, actions, everything.

Above all, the drug IS the most important thing in the world to them.

Love is an emotion which can be complicated enough without adding the toxic mixture of addiction into it. Staying out of involvement with a drug addict is the best advice. If you are already in a relationship with someone who has become an addict, try to get them help. If you cannot, there may come a time when you have to make them choose, and they WILL choose the drug, unfortunately. Talk to a drug rehab professional for more help.