What Is the Drug Crank?

“Crank” is the street term for methamphetamine, widely referred to as meth. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it specifically refers to a less pure variant of crystal meth.

Crank is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It belongs to a group of drugs called amphetamines. Like meth, these drugs are highly addictive.

People who use crank over a prolonged period encounter life-threatening dangers. Misusing meth can have severe consequences for both your physical and mental health, including meth addiction and risks of overdose.

What Is Crank?

Crank is a common street name for methamphetamine, often abbreviated as meth. Crank, or ice, is also known by various slang terms, such as tina, cookies, dunk, scooby snacks, rocket fuel, and cotton candy.

Crank may be consumed in various forms; it is smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally as a pill. It is typically distributed as a white powder or encapsulated. Those who use crank report that it has a distinctly bitter flavor. In its solid form, crystal meth is comparable to fragments of glass or lustrous white pebbles in appearance.

Crank has powerful effects that quickly fade. This leads people to use it frequently in a pattern of highs and lows called “binge and crash.” In some cases, users may engage in a spree of meth use over numerous days, a phase termed a “run,” during which they typically don’t eat or sleep.

Methamphetamine is a powerful substance recognized as a Schedule II stimulant because it is highly addictive. It is often made illegally in secret meth labs. These labs can be set up in motel rooms, garages, and even vehicles. This happens across the United States.

Methamphetamines are not often used for medicine, but there is one exception. Desoxyn is a medication made to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

The Dangers of Using Crank

Using crank can lead to seizures because it raises body temperature, increases blood pressure, and speeds up heart rate. These seizures indicate a methamphetamine overdose, requiring immediate medical intervention to prevent a deadly outcome. Furthermore, the crank drug is laced with various harmful chemicals, leading to various severe health complications.

Crank vs Cocaine

Methamphetamine and cocaine rank as two of the most widely misused substances across the globe. Both stimulants produce comparable effects and consequences, yet their operational mechanisms vary. A notable contrast lies in their origins: methamphetamine is derived from plant-based sources, whereas cocaine is synthetically produced.

Both crank and cocaine affect brain function. However, long-term use of crank has a more negative impact on memory and focus compared to cocaine. It takes 12 hours for half of the crank to be eliminated from the body. In contrast, cocaine is expelled within just an hour.

Short-Term Effects of Crank

The immediate consequences of using crank mirrors those of other stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines, including Adderall. These impacts include:

• A profound sensation of euphoria
• Reduced appetite or complete lack of eating
• Insomnia
• Elevated blood pressure
• Fast breathing
• Fast or erratic heart rate
• A surge in physical activity
• Restlessness
• Excessive talking
• Increased body temperature
• Violent behavior

Long-Term Effects of Crank

Battling a prolonged addiction to crank significantly impairs brain functionality. Research on long-term methamphetamine users indicates alterations in brain regions associated with memory and emotion. These studies also uncover how chronic usage affects a person’s capacity for decision-making and habit formation.

People who use meth over an extended period face difficulties with comprehension, cognition, learning, and memory retention. Moreover, they may exhibit psychotic symptoms persisting for months or even years beyond stopping use.

The long-lasting health consequences of methamphetamine abuse include:

• Meth abuse and addiction
• Rapid weight loss
• Significant dental complications, including meth mouth
• Skin lesions because of scratching
• Heart complications
• Paranoid thoughts
• Emotional instability
• Hallucinations, or experiencing or perceiving things that are not present
• False beliefs
• Impaired memory
• Sleep disturbances
• Elevated anxiety levels
• Feeling confused
• Psychotic episodes

Meth Detox

Meth has a high potential for addiction, with withdrawal symptoms manifesting immediately after you stop using the drug. The psychological impacts of the drug can be equally or more damaging than the physical symptoms experienced during withdrawal.

Crank withdrawal symptoms include:

• Depression
• Lack of strength
• Exhaustion
• Elevated anxiety
• Drastic fluctuations in body temperature
• Nausea
• Muscle spasms
• Sleeplessness
• Diminished motor skills
• Irregular heartbeat

Get Help for Your Crank Addiction at Northridge Addiction Treatment Center

Crank is not a substance people use casually or randomly. Addiction to crank develops rapidly and requires an intensive drug addiction treatment program. Often, before a person realizes it, their occasional use becomes a seemingly unbreakable habit.

However, there is hope and assistance available. Northridge Addiction Treatment Center offers comprehensive substance abuse treatments that pave the way for a life free from addiction.

Our therapy programs are designed to create personalized treatment plans for each person. We ensure these plans are customized to cater to your specific requirements, facilitating your healing and recovery process.

Our addiction treatment care is grounded in scientific evidence and follows the Matrix Model framework. This comprehensive approach includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and 12-step facilitation therapy, among others, ensuring a healing process informed by rigorous research.

Northridge Addiction Treatment Center’s licensed and experienced team is committed to the personal recovery journey of each resident. If you or a loved one is struggling with methamphetamine addiction, do not hesitate to contact us today.

The caring team at Northridge Addiction Treatment Center is here to support you in your journey to long-term recovery. They are dedicated to guiding you toward a path of sustained healing.

Contact us today. Our treatment specialists are eager to help you find the right care for you.