Can You Snort Crack Cocaine?

Crack cocaine is an illicit stimulant drug that begins with powder cocaine, a drug that comes from the coca plant of South America.

Crack cocaine abuse has become a widespread problem across the United States. Many young people have experimented with using crack and cocaine to get high, despite negative consequences.

As people learn more about crack addiction, they often ask questions about how crack is used.

For example, is it possible to snort crack?

Yes, it is possible to snort crack. However, snorting crack cocaine is a rare form of crack cocaine use.

When Is Cocaine Snorted?

When people snort cocaine, they are generally snorting powder cocaine.

In its powder form, cocaine cannot be smoked because it has a high melting point and does not produce much vapor.

Because it cannot be smoked, powder cocaine requires other methods of use.

Snorting, or cocaine insufflation, is one of the most common.

However, crack cocaine may be snorted as well, as long as it is ground back into a powder before it is used.

Why Might A Person Snort Crack Cocaine?

If you’re living with an addict, it’s important to understand why your loved one might snort crack and be aware of the risks associated with cocaine insufflation.

Crack cocaine is nearly always smoked instead of snorted.

However, there are a few reasons why people may choose to snort crack cocaine instead of smoking it.

Drug Availability

Some people with cocaine addiction or any other form of drug addiction may have preferred methods of cocaine use.

For example, some people may prefer smoking crack because it produces a very powerful high. Others may prefer snorting to avoid lung-related side effects.

However, crack cocaine is often more widely available than powder cocaine, so it may be obtained more easily.

If a person with a cocaine addiction can only access crack cocaine, but they prefer snorting over other methods, they may crush crack cocaine to snort it rather than smoking it.

Crack Cocaine Paraphernalia

Different methods of crack abuse require different types of crack cocaine paraphernalia. For example, when smoking crack, people often use a glass pipe.

However, when a person experiences strong drug cravings without access to their usual paraphernalia, they may look for alternate methods of drug use.

Crushing crack cocaine and snorting it is a relatively simple way to experience the effects of cocaine, even if the high is not as strong as the high that comes from smoking.

While smoking crack requires very specific items, snorting crack only requires a few things that can be found around the house.

A person would simply need a straw, a smooth surface, something to crush the drug, and an object with a flat edge to arrange the crack into a line.

Crushed Crack Sold As Powder Cocaine

When a person purchases illicit drugs, they have no way of knowing what additives and impurities have been mixed into those drugs.

Drug dealers often mix additional substances into their drugs so that they can sell more.

Crack cocaine is often cheaper than powder cocaine because of its baking soda content.

It is possible for pre-crushed crack cocaine to be sold as powder cocaine so that the dealer can make more money off of the product.

In this case, the person who buys the crack may snort it without realizing what drug they are consuming.

Is Snorting Crack Cocaine Dangerous?

Snorting crack cocaine is very dangerous for two reasons.

First, crack cocaine in general is dangerous and produces many health problems.

The effects of crack can impact the mind, body, and emotions.

Some of these side effects include:

• increased heart rate
• heart attack
• chest pain and similar cocaine-related cardiovascular issues
• constricted blood vessels
• high blood pressure
• dilated pupils (“cocaine eyes”)
• internal organ damage
• mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression
• elevated body temperature
• cocaine psychosis (a complete break from reality)
• withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
• cocaine overdose
• stroke
• cocaine-induced seizure
• sudden death

Second, the act of snorting crack cocaine produces side effects of its own, including runny nose, nosebleeds, septum damage, and loss of smell.

Find Addiction Treatment And Overcome Substance Abuse

Crack cocaine addiction is a complex disorder, no matter the method of abuse.

Like any substance use disorder, it requires the right treatment options.

Spring Hill Recovery Center offers both inpatient and outpatient care for people who deal with crack cocaine use.

Our treatment center helps people overcome their use of addictive drugs.

If you or a loved one are looking for treatment programs to detox from cocaine and find long-term sobriety, contact Spring Hill Recovery Center today to learn more.