When someone uses crack, even for a very short period of time, they are likely to become psychologically addicted to it. The artificially-stimulated flood of dopamine in the brain creates a reward response and triggers certain brain activities.

This reward response can lead to the brain of the person using crack to feel compelled to keep using it, in order to achieve the desired effects. This becomes a reinforcement response in the brain, which is ultimately what addiction is. Addiction changes the function and the chemical makeup of the brain.

Addressing Mental Issues Caused by Usage

Crack rehab has to address these brain changes, and also the social, psychological, and physical elements of addiction for it to be most effective. It’s not uncommon for crack to trigger certain psychological symptoms that can mimic other mental health disorders.

For example, someone may experience symptoms of bipolar disorder or mania if they use crack. Crack addiction treatment has to address these symptoms, in addition to the addiction itself.

Crack rehab will often begin with a detox program. Following detox, crack rehab can take place in an inpatient setting, or a partial hospitalization program. There are also crack outpatient programs available.

Beginning the Steps to Recovery

For most people, crack rehab is a series of steps. They begin with detox, move into inpatient treatment, and from there step down into a partial hospitalization program. Following partial hospitalization, the person may then participate in outpatient care outside of an inpatient drug rehab center, and finally, aftercare planning may include participation in a program like Narcotics Anonymous.

Drugs like crack are psychologically addictive, but also create physical dependence. Physical dependence to crack indicates that a person’s brain and body have become used to the presence of the drug to function “normally.” If the person suddenly stops using crack after a period of time, they may experience withdrawal symptoms.



During crack detox, patients can receive medical care and monitoring as the remnants of the drug leave their system. Crack detox should be focused on helping the patient be safe and comfortable during this time. Crack withdrawal symptoms that need to be managed during a medical detox can be physical and psychological.

What Should You Expect with Crack Inpatient Treatment?

Crack inpatient treatment is the most intensive type of rehab care. Inpatient rehab for crack addiction will typically begin with a medical detox. Once someone has fully detoxed from crack and any other substances used, they will begin the actual treatment process. Crack inpatient treatment will often include a combination of therapy modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and supplemental treatments to help reduce and manage stress, and re-enter daily life.

A drug rehab program offering any kind of addiction treatment should be private and confidential. Addiction treatment should also address the needs of the whole person. A person is more than their substance abuse, and it’s important to look for rehab centers and addiction treatment programs that take this into consideration.

A partial hospitalization program is somewhat in the middle between inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment. While someone might begin their crack rehab journey with partial hospitalization, what more often happens is that following residential treatment, a patient moves into partial hospitalization.

Partial hospitalization requires patients to continue participating in intensive day treatment. However, at the end of each treatment day, patients can return home.

Because of the gripping nature of crack addiction, in most cases, it’s not recommended someone participate in a PHP program until they have gained the tools and coping mechanisms of inpatient rehab. Otherwise, the freedom of being able to return home each night might contribute to the likelihood of a relapse.

Crack outpatient rehab is flexible and doesn’t require participants stay in a residential facility. Outpatient rehab can be drug education, group counseling, individual counseling or a combination. With some addictions, if a person hasn’t been experiencing addiction symptoms for a long period of time, they may begin with outpatient rehab.

With crack, this isn’t typically recommended. Crack is extremely addictive and can cause severe psychological and physical symptoms. Outpatient rehab should be something a person enters into only after first completing more intensive treatment, with regard to crack addiction.