Smoking crack cocaine results in a faster and shorter high, compared to snorting coke. Crack cocaine in the brain can create a powerful craving and repeated cocaine use that can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction.

1. HOW DOES
CRACK COCAINE
AFFECT THE
BRAIN?
HOW DOES
CRACK COCAINE
AFFECT THE
BRAIN?

2. How does cocaine become crack?

3. COCAINE PLANT
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the
“Coca plant” native to South America.

4. SNORTED
COCAINE

5. Baking Soda
SMOKED
The name refers to the crackling sound heard when the rock is heated and smoked.
Crack is made from cocaine process called freebasing, in which cocaine is cooked with
ammonia or baking soda to create a rock form that can be smoked.

6. What happens when crack vapor is inhaled?

7. LUNGS
BRAIN
BLOOD STREAM
The vapors of the crack are absorbed through the lungs, into the bloodstream,
and transported to the brain within 10-15 seconds.

8. How does crack affect the brain?

9. COCAINE
Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that increases levels of the
neurotransmitter dopamine in brain circuits regulating pleasure and movement.

10. DOPAMINE
Dopamine is released by neurons in the nervous system
that controls feeling of pleasure and well-being.
Neurotransmitters allow information in the form of electrical impulses
to be passed through the body.
NEUROTRANSMITTER

11. CRACK
Crack works by causing the brain’s neurotransmitters to release all the dopamine at once.

12. How does dopamine travel through the brain?

13. NEURON
RECEPTOR
DOPAMINE TRANSPORTER
NEURON
SYNAPSE
Once released, dopamine travels across a gap between nerve cells, called a synapse, and
binds to a receptor on a neighboring nerve cell (also called a neuron). This sends a signal
to that nerve cell, which produces a good feeling.
DOPAMINE

14. Under normal conditions, once the dopamine sends that signal it is reabsorbed by
the neuron that released it. This reabsorption happens with the help of a protein
called the dopamine transporter.
DOPAMINE TRANSPORTER

15. How does crack interrupts this cycle?

16. Crack interrupts this cycle. It attaches to the dopamine transporter, preventing
the normal reabsorption process. Dopamine then builds up in the gap synapse
between neurons, creating a lingering feeling of pleasure or euphoria in the user.
CRACK

17. How smoking cocaine can lead to addiction?

18. DEPRESSION ADDICTION
5 to 7 minutes
Crack's rapid rush - 5 to 7 minutes of intense pleasure - quickly subsides, leading to
depression that needs to be relieved by more crack. This cycle enhances the chances
of addiction.

19. What are the effects of crack addiction?

20. Addiction lead to cocaine psychosis causing, paranoia, hallucinations,
and delusional parasitosis.
ADDICTION
PARANOIA
HALLUCINATIONS
FORMICATION

21. Formication is an abnormal sensation in which insects or snakes are perceived to
be crawling under the skin.

22. Most seriously, addiction to cocaine can also result to cardiac arrest, stroke and death.

23. https://recoverysteps.com/blog/brain-on-crack-cocaine/
SOURCES
http://science.howstuffworks.com/crack3.htm
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine
http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/FAQ-crack.htm
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/crack.asp
http://www.medicaldaily.com/your-brain-cocaine-dopamine-buildup-excites-brains-reward-center-what-price-270489
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