What is it?
Crack is cocaine that has been prepared into a form that can be smoked. Effects come on quickly and fade quickly, which can lead to repeated use in a short space of time.
Common forms
- Small rocks or crystals
How it affects the body
As with powder cocaine, crack raises heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, with a faster onset when smoked.
Short-term effects
- Intense, short-lived stimulation
- Raised heart rate and blood pressure
- Agitation, anxiety or paranoia
- Strong urge to re-dose
Long-term effects
- Cardiovascular and respiratory harm
- Burns and injuries from pipes
- Mental-health difficulties
- Dependence and significant social harm
Dependence and addiction
Dependence can develop when the body and brain adapt to regular use. It is not a moral failing or a lack of willpower. Signs people describe include needing more to get the same effect, difficulty cutting down, spending more time thinking about use, and continuing despite harm. Support is available at any stage — you do not need to have reached a crisis point.
Withdrawal
Stopping or reducing after regular use can cause withdrawal. Withdrawal varies between people and depends on how much and how long someone has used, their physical health and other substances involved. Some withdrawal can be medically serious, so it is safer to plan a reduction with a clinician or a drug and alcohol service rather than stopping abruptly alone.
Overdose risks
Chest pain, seizure, severe agitation, collapse or unresponsiveness are medical emergencies. Call 999.
Mixing substances
Use alongside opioids or alcohol increases risk. Combined stimulant and opioid use is a recognised overdose risk.
Harm-reduction information
- Avoid sharing pipes — this can transmit infections
- Use your own equipment where harm-reduction supplies are available locally
- Avoid using alone
- Ask a local service about naloxone if opioids may also be involved
When to seek urgent medical help
Call 999 if someone is unconscious or cannot be woken, is having difficulty breathing, has a seizure, has chest pain, becomes very confused or agitated, or you are worried they may have overdosed. For urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call NHS 111. You will not get someone into trouble by calling for medical help.
Treatment and recovery options
- Talking therapies and structured psychosocial support
- Community drug and alcohol services, including self-referral where available
- Medication-assisted treatment where clinically appropriate
- Medically supported withdrawal, arranged and monitored by clinicians
- Peer support and recovery communities
- Residential rehabilitation for some people, usually via assessment
- Support for related needs — mental health, housing, family and welfare
UK support resources
- NHS — health information and service finders (nhs.uk)
- Talk to FRANK — UK drug information service (talktofrank.com)
- Your local community drug and alcohol service — many accept self-referrals
- Local pharmacy teams, who can offer advice and signposting
Sources / references
This page is a plain-language summary written for education. For clinical or legal detail, use authoritative UK sources: NHS (nhs.uk), Talk to FRANK (talktofrank.com), NICE (nice.org.uk), UK Government and devolved government publications, and guidance from UK professional bodies. Each page on this site carries a review date, and we welcome corrections.