# Have you ever really KNOWN a crackhead? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472 "2012-05-01T01:36:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/81 "2012-05-01T16:05:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Thank you. When I see these stupid internet acronyms, I want to know what they mean. I mean, what the hell? It’s a comment in this thread. We’re not allowed to discuss what a post is supposed to mean if it’s unclear? I just meant stop perpetuating discussion of something that to me was meant to be insulting (given the post that he deleted), which I had moderated, and stop the hijack. If it was “WH” and everyone was like, “what’s that?” and we were like “Woo Hoo” … then fine. I’m just trying to get us back to the absorbing topic of crackheads. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/82 "2012-05-01T16:14:03Z")
Feed The Birds Whoo Hooo! (I’m going to go outside and dance in circles and sing this and see what happens). ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/83 "2012-05-01T16:25:48Z")
Did it ever occur to some of these posters who sound like they’re on a very special episode of a sitcom in 1991 that some people are just selfish, rotten, incompetent people with no dignity, and that these people often use “I was drunk,” or “I’m addicted to crack,” as an excuse when someone inquires as to why they’re such such a useless piece of shit? Of course, to decide you want to be a crack head is kind of a selfish dick decision anyway. Seriously people, did someone just steal your TVs or something? These posts are a little off the deep end. We all know that as far as bad habits go, crack is about as bad as they come. It’s right up there with cheerleading, riding a motorcycle and alcohol. I agree that habitual crack users are a serious pain in society’s ass. But do you really need to go on about the difference between a crack whore and a regular prostitute, or claim that crackheads aren’t human? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/84 "2012-05-01T17:06:43Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Did it ever occur to some of these posters who sound like they’re on a very special episode of a sitcom in 1991 that some people are just selfish, rotten, incompetent people with no dignity, and that these people often use “I was drunk,” or “I’m addicted to crack,” as an excuse when someone inquires as to why they’re such such a useless piece of shit? Of course, to decide you want to be a crack head is kind of a selfish dick decision anyway. > > Seriously people, did someone just steal your TVs or something? These posts are a little off the deep end. We all know that as far as bad habits go, crack is about as bad as they come. It’s right up there with cheerleading, riding a motorcycle and alcohol. I agree that habitual crack users are a serious pain in society’s ass. But do you really need to go on about the difference between a crack whore and a regular prostitute, or claim that crackheads aren’t human? I agree completely. I’ve been shocked at some of the replies to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/85 "2012-05-01T17:17:39Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I just meant stop perpetuating discussion of something that to me was meant to be insulting (given the post that he deleted), which I had moderated, and stop the hijack. If it was “WH” and everyone was like, “what’s that?” and we were like “Woo Hoo” … then fine. > > I’m just trying to get us back to the absorbing topic of crackheads. Fine. My last post on this this on this side topic. I just thought it was weird that he would have edited something insulting to leave something even _more_ insulting in its place, which is why I was curious about the meaning of “FTB,” because the vulgar interpretations didn’t seem to make sense to me, and we’re also not in the Pit. Anyhow, back to our study of crackheads. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/86 "2012-05-01T17:51:32Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I’ve known several Crackheads, and NO the addiction isn’t similar to other addictions due to its speed of high and intensity. > > Yes all addictions are bad, and yes alcohol probably causes more misery then any other drug, due to its legality and widespread use. > > Well now that I’ve mentioned the Red Herrings and got them out of the way I’'ll get back to the point. > > The people I knew became addicted incredibly quickly, the number of hits for them also rose very quickly. > > At first as quite high earners they could just about afford their habit by not spending money on other things, and they functioned outwardly quite normally. > > They then started getting new customers for their dealers in return for free hits, also sold it themselves for free hits (not money) , and would borrow money without any intentions of repayment from friends and relations. > > And then when people started realising what these people were like they started stealing anything that they could and then eventually selling themselves for sex. > > They were very unpleasant people to be around, giggling like children when “up”, and then in very aggressive foul tempers when they came down not that long afterwards. > > They tend to have very little or no self esteem, (hence the $10 blow jobs, and stealing off of close members of their family) so that the poster who was getting indignant by proxy about them being called “Crack Whores” (Male or female ) was being a little bit silly. > > You’d have to work very, very hard to offend them in any way (Except on a come down where asking them the time might throw them into a rage ), let alone calling them a C.W. which is after all a pretty accurate description of them. > > One other point, someone up thread started talking about the effects of cocaine, Coke and Crack are different entities with different effects, the difference between cheese and butter. > If you don’t actually know this then you’re not really qualified to debate the subject. > > As to the bleeding heart, "Oh we should feel sorry for them, its not their fault, its an illness ", sorry but that doesn’t cut it. > > Apart from the fact that the initial smoking of the stuff is self inflicted, if everyone who acted anti socially was “suffering” from a disease then murderers, paedophiles and rapists would also be victims, and as such not to be punished but treated with compassion instead. > > Well good luck with that. > > I do think that the people who have cried "Wolf "in the past about drugs are to blaim at least in part for some of the spread of drug use. > > When people are warned about the seriously addictive nature of some drugs, or the behavioural or psychological damage that they can do , its not surprising that they disbelieve what they’re told because they were told the same thing about Marijuana. > > And ignore the warnings. > > Equally guilty at the other end of the spectrum are the apologists for drug fuelled criminals when they lump all drugs together, describing them as all bad etc. You’ve said it much better than I could. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/87 "2012-05-01T18:16:10Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > And you know this because… you’re a crackhead, maybe? > > The only person I’ve ever known for a fact who smoked crack was a guy I knew from I factory job and hung out with until I found out he smoked crack. I never saw him turning tricks. He didn’t have scabs, wasn’t homeless, wasn’t skinny. On the contrary, he was a bodybuilder-- picked up weightlifting when he was in prison. I found out he smoked crack when I told him I wanted to some new CDs and he said he knew a place I could buy some. We drove to a mildly run down apartment and, hey presto, they had crack instead instead of CDs. > > You’d never know it from looking at him. He did have trouble turning up for work and got canned. I did some drinking with his uncle and got an earful about how the guy blew a lot of money on drugs, including selling off a nice car. Nothing about turning tricks, though, sorry. > > So what does my experience mean? Not much. It’s just one guy, after all. But I’d thought I’d throw it in there as it goes against the pronunciations of a couple of posters who don’t seem like they know as much as they claim. I’ll repeat myself: You simply were unaware of this man’s life as a crackhead. They are extremely adept at hiding things and deceiving. And, he might have been high-functioning at the outset of his crack addiction but I guarantee you that will/did not last. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/88 "2012-05-01T18:20:39Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I agree completely. I’ve been shocked at some of the replies to this thread. Well you’d be much more shocked to discover the realities behind crack addiction then. It is _not_ just “another addiction”; despite what others here may say. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/89 "2012-05-01T18:39:28Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > My counselor told me he’s seen far too many people start to love their liqueur more than their kids. My dad decided he was going to gamble away all his savings and retirement and then commit suicide, he had a date in mind and everything. When asked what he expected his eight year old son to live on he said “who cares I will be dead”. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/90 "2012-05-01T18:55:48Z")
Back in college, I worked as a mover and one of the guys I worked with had no problem admitting he was one. He was in his early to mid 40s but looked considerably older. He had inherited his mom’s condo and had some inheritance money from her as well, so his overall cost of living was pretty low, yet he still had to have a room mate who basically just had to pay the bills and buy food as his rent since he spent every penny he had on crack and prostitutes. We would get paid once a week, he would also go to the corner store, cash the check for like $600-800, depending on how much work there was, and by the next morning, if he actually managed to make it in, he’d be begging to borrow money for lunch because he’d just blown all of it on crack the previous night. Really, pretty despressing when I think about it. He had a couple grown kids but they didn’t talk to him. He was in pretty horrible shape, even for doing manual labor. And I swear I thought he was in his mid-60s until someone told me he was in his early 40s. Honestly, I’d be surprised if he was still alive now. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/91 "2012-05-01T18:57:56Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Well you’d be much more shocked to discover the realities behind crack addiction then. It is _not_ just “another addiction”; despite what others here may say. I think you are just in shock that you found out someone close to you is a drug addict and did horrible stuff. I am quite sure a case could be made that meth addiction, for example, is just as bad. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/92 "2012-05-01T18:59:12Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’ll repeat myself: You simply were unaware of this man’s life as a crackhead. They are extremely adept at hiding things and deceiving. And, he might have been high-functioning at the outset of his crack addiction but I guarantee you that will/did not last. Um, not every addict is the same as your friend. Many addicts are quite functional, even those on crack. The difference is probably the severity of the addiction as well as the financial means a person has to buy drugs. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/93 "2012-05-01T19:26:15Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I think you are just in shock that you found out someone close to you is a drug addict and did horrible stuff. I am quite sure a case could be made that meth addiction, for example, is just as bad. Now that you mention it, I have seen similar if not more severe reactions from people who learned that someone close to them was a gambling addict or sex addict. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/94 "2012-05-01T19:32:03Z")
A waitress at one of my favorite pizza places died one weekend from an overdose. I’d seen her pretty often because she worked the section of tables I usually sit in. She’d been battling crack for years and was pretty open about her attempts at recovery. Her death was the sad, but typical story. She got paid and cashed her check the day before. The other waitresses told me they thought she went on a binge that weekend. She was well liked at the pizza place and its a shame that she just couldn’t beat the addiction. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/95 "2012-05-01T20:44:25Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’ll repeat myself: You simply were unaware of this man’s life as a crackhead. They are extremely adept at hiding things and deceiving. That is such a stupid and annoying way of looking at things that I’m pitting you for it. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15022521#post15022521](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15022521#post15022521) Seriously, not everyone who abuses crack cocaine acts exactly the same. Grow up and get a clue. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/96 "2012-05-01T21:09:20Z")
CRACK IS WHACK! (95 posts and I’m the first to say this?) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/97 "2012-05-01T21:28:57Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > So considering that the world of diagnosing defines and clearly differentiates use, abuse, and dependence/addiction, how would you describe what he does with crack (I know that sounds odd)? Use, for sure. Abuse…I’m never sure what that means (I am not an addictions specialist, so I don’t know these clearly differentiating diagnoses of which you speak. I’d like to see a list of them, though, if you happen to have it handy.) Dependence/addiction I don’t know how to identify unless he were to go without and we see if he develops symptoms of withdrawal and/or turns into such a raging ass that he destroys relationships/jobs/self over it. And I think maybe that’s what this boils down to. He has money. He has enough money to support his habit without stealing, sucking cock or doing other illegal or unsavory things to get more money. Apparently he likes crack rather than cocaine because it gives him a pick me up at work, enabling him to make more money, without lasting so long that he can’t function at work making more money. He uses crack like I use coffee. If he lost his job would he start stealing to support his habit? Maybe. There are certainly some members here who think so. Or if he lost his job, would he stop using crack because he wouldn’t lose money getting tired at 1 in the afternoon when all the other Brokers were still going strong (many of them, to hear him talk, using crack or cocaine as well)? I don’t have any idea, really. I’m sure if you asked him today, he’d say that’s what he’d do, but would he really? No clue. He’s been doing it for the 10 years I’ve known him, and I don’t think he was all that new at it when we met. My point in posting this anecdote was that despite the claims of many people, there ARE functional “crackheads” out there. I don’t know if there are many, and I don’t know if they’re outnumbered by the dysfunctional ones, but there are some. Or at least one. Or, if you want to look at it another way, don’t trust that rich guys who wear suits to work are all sober and clean. Some of them are crackheads, too. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/98 "2012-05-01T22:10:09Z")
I’ve been in N. A. for 24 years. So I have known about 10 billion crackheads. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/99 "2012-05-01T22:14:21Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Bite your tongue; that’s a beautiful song. Me, I’m hearing Bryan Adams sing the title of this thread every time I see it. I’m a bad person, though, so. > > And to answer the OP’s question, no. I’ve seen friends get addicted to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and meth, but never crack, as far as I know. It may well be worse, but seriously, the others were plenty bad enough. Now I want to sing Bryan Adams so all is well again in my 80’s world. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/100 "2012-05-01T22:25:11Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > If I only knew just how much that heroin addiction paled in comparison to the unmitigated evil that is crack addiction. Apples and oranges. Some addictions interfere way more than others with day-to-day functioning. Heroin happens to be one that can be more easily “managed” than crack, but that doesn’t make it any less devastating to the addict or any easier to beat. > [@](#): > > There is drug addiction and then there is crack addiction. There is drug addiction and then there is meth addiction. There is drug addiction and then there is inhalant addiction. etc. etc. Each drug carries its own set of baggage. As does each addict. > [@](#): > > Crack is cocaine but it’s more pure This is nonsensical. “More pure” than what? As you said, it’s _made from_ cocaine. Product made from stomped-on powder will not magically turn primo just because you’ve added a bit of baking powder. > [@](#): > > When a person takes that first hit, they are immediately engulfed in the most intense, pleasurable, orgasmic wave that has ever been experienced. And it only lasts five minutes. This is simply untrue. A lot of people use the word “orgasmic” because the high makes you tingle some, it rings your skull. It’s not all that though, and whoever told you so is either pulling your leg or fishing for sympathy for what they’ve so nobly given up. And that rush lasts maybe 30 seconds; the next 4 or 5 minutes you’re still high, but not ringing. > [@](#): > > Crack and sex are inseparable. Not only is sex a primary payment method for many addicts, but sex itself is the main activity taking place when users smoke. The high makes them hypersexual and horny; they lose all inhibitions and will have sex with anybody. You’re funny. Really, I’m dying here imagining you imagining the vast horde of crackheads hitting their pipes and immediately dropping trous and mounting each other. Yes, crackheads have sex. Shockingly, some even have standards, as low as they may seem from an outside perspective. IME, however, when in groups smokers are more often playing cards, dice, dominoes or video games. Granted, there’s usually a porno playing in the background, but group sex is a relative rarity. > [@](#): > > And crackheads are not all like the toothless whore with scabs on her lips giving blowjobs for $5 on the corner. So, you’re saying every addict is different? This much, at least, is true. So why did you spend so many words above insisting the exact opposite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472.md?page=6)