Crack cocaine addiction treatment: Who seeks help? (INFOGRAPHIC)

Treatment admissions for crack addiction problem

In 2006 in the United States, crack cocaine was the primary drug of abuse in 178,475 treatment admissions. This represented 71% of all primary cocaine admissions to treatment that year. In 2012, about 5% of all treatment admissions were people aged 12 and older.

The average age at crack addiction treatment admission was around 42 years. Out of all the people who sought help for crack use problem, 77% were aged 35 or older.

• Admissions among non-Hispanic Black males peaked at 48 years
• Admissions among non-Hispanic White males peaked at 43 years

Crack cocaine involves increase in crime rates

There is a strong link between crack cocaine use and crime.

The 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Crack Statistics has examined reported crime rates in the time before crack was introduced to the streets. The survey found that crime rates were about 10% lower.

Another survey found that 8.9% of male adults and 28.5% of female adults who were arrested have admitted to using crack in the year before their arrest. These percentages were also lower within prior years.

Crack addiction treatment: Why it’s necessary?

Treatment of crack addiction is necessary to prevent future health problems or other life complications.

You can speak with your primary care physician or family doctor, a school counselor, your psychologist, or licensed psychiatrist for referral to a cocaine addiction treatment program. Addiction programs can be either inpatient or outpatient, and should include services such as:

• admission and evaluation
• crack detox
• cognitive-behavioral therapy
• contingency management, or motivational incentives
• educational and relapse prevention session
• support group meetings such as 12 step programs, SMART Recovery, Life Ring, Cocaine Anonymous, etc.
• aftercare

You can find certified addiction facilities near your living area, here:

Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline on 1-800-662-HELP (4357) OR 1-800-487-4889 (TDD)
Find a Treatment Facility Near You using SAMHSA’S Treatment Locator

Cocaine addiction treatment questions

Do you want to know more? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this page. We try to answer all legitimate inquiries personally and promptly. In case we don’t know the answer to your particular question, we will refer you to professionals who can help.

Reference Sources: SAMHSA: Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings

U.S. Sentencing Commission: 1995 Report to the Congress: Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy

NIDA: Cocaine

NIDA: DrugFacts—Treatment Statistics

U.S. Department of Justice: Drugs and Crime Facts

Graham, Kyle, “Sorry seems to be the hardest word: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Crack, and Methamphetamine” University of Richmond Law Review (Richmond, VA: Richmond School of Law, March 2011) Vol. 45, Issue 3, pp. 771-773.

Kora DeBeck, Thomas Kerr, Kathy Li, Benedikt Fischer, Jane Buxton, Julio Montaner, and Evan Wood, “Smoking of crack cocaine as a risk factor for HIV infection among people who use injection drugs” Canadian Medical Association Journal, (October 2009), 181(9), p. 588.

About the author

Lee Weber

Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.