Can You Snort Crack? | Effects & Dangers Of Snorting Crack Cocaine

Crack is a solid form of cocaine that comes in white rocks or crystals. Smoking crack is the most common way of taking it, but it can also be snorted.

People may snort crack for different reasons, but crack is an illegal substance no matter how it is used. Snorting crack can be dangerous to your health.

How & Why Crack Is Snorted

Crack is a combination of cocaine and baking soda. It is a rock crystal. This form is hard to inhale through the nose, so these rocks are usually broken down into smaller pieces before being snorted.

Snorting a substance is usually a slower way to get it into your system. Smoking and injecting drugs tend to be much faster.

A person snorting crack may want to feel its effects over a longer period of time. They may also believe that snorting crack is safer than smoking it. However, snorting crack can cause a number of side effects, and any form of crack use is still a form of illicit substance abuse.

Side Effects Of Snorting Crack

Snorting drugs, also known as insufflation, can damage the nose and respiratory system. Drugs in powder form, such as powdered cocaine and crack, can wear down the tissue, blood vessels, and cartilage in the nose, leading to long-term and sometimes permanent damage.

Potential damage to these areas by snorting crack includes:

• nosebleeds
• loss of smell
• constant runny noses
• damaged blood vessels in the nose
• damage to the nasal septum (the wall of cartilage and bone between nostrils)

Other Health Risks

Any form of crack cocaine use can be dangerous. Crack is a Schedule II controlled substance and a highly addictive drug. The effects of crack only last for about 10 minutes, which can cause one to take many doses in a short amount of time to get the same effects.

This could eventually lead to a “crash,” or when a person experiences exhaustion and depression after a period of heavy crack use. After the crash, crack use may increase and lead to another crash. 

In the long-term, snorting crack can increase the risk of:

• breathing problems
• cardiovascular problems (high blood pressure, irregular heart rate)
• mental health problems (paranoia, anxiety, lethargy, psychosis)

Overdose

Crack overdoses can occur when a large amount is taken at once. This may happen when the drug is smoked or snorted. Overdoses can cause heart attack, stroke, seizures, and sudden death.

Treating Crack Cocaine Addiction

If you or a loved one struggles with crack addiction, you may want to look into potential treatment options. Therapy, inpatient care at a treatment center, and other forms of addiction treatment can help you come off the drug safely.

To learn more about how the effects of cocaine, crack, and other stimulant drugs can inform your personalized treatment program, please contact us today.