# 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:** 8
**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 2, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/141 "2012-05-02T20:37:41Z")
Jamie - Maybe this was answered already, but I’m curious (sincerely) if this crackhead friend of yours is the same friend that went MIA on you earlier in the month. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/142 "2012-05-02T20:50:44Z")
When I worked in rental property management, we owned and managed a rooming house called The Crackhouse. We would rent to anyone who had Social Services paying their rent, and would put all the crackheads in that place. I have known and dealt with at least a hundred of them, and the stories I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/143 "2012-05-02T21:00:21Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’m sorry for bringing this up here. I just found the entire subject incredibly interesting. I have not been _harping_ on anything. You are harping on things. Stop telling everybody what crackheads are like and ask some questions. You just met your first crackhead. This problem is nearly 30 years old. There are, and have been, a lot of crackheads in that time. And there are commonalities in behavior among addicts that are not based on the particular substances, but on the common circumstances instead. And there is not one single way to deal with or treat a crackhead either. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/144 "2012-05-02T23:09:52Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Jamie - Maybe this was answered already, but I’m curious (sincerely) if this crackhead friend of yours is the same friend that went MIA on you earlier in the month. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/145 "2012-05-02T23:13:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You are harping on things. Stop telling everybody what crackheads are like and ask some questions. You just met your first crackhead. This problem is nearly 30 years old. There are, and have been, a lot of crackheads in that time. And there are commonalities in behavior among addicts that are not based on the particular substances, but on the common circumstances instead. And there is not one single way to deal with or treat a crackhead either. Wrong. I didn’t meet my first crackhead. Far from it. This experience was the first time _someone I considered a friend_ was in fact a crackhead. I grew up in Flint, MI in the 80’s and 90’s; I have met and known _several_ crackheads. I just never knew any of them well. And there is common behavior among crack addicts not found in other addicts. I _will_ agree with your statement that there is no one single way to deal with or treat a crackhead; other than to completely and absolutely cut them out of your life (until and unless they are clean). ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/146 "2012-05-02T23:19:38Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > Even if you had presented your arguements as “this was my experience, and also what I read on xyz dot com…” – that would have opened a discussion. Your OP title was asking if people knew someone; when people replied, you shut them down. Like I said elsewhere, this discourse taught me a lot about communication–especially in this community. So I thank you for that. 🙂 > > On another note, fwiw, it appears you’ve been stung by something out there and it hurt deep. There’s lots of opportunity to process and rechannel that stinging; I recommend you start with AlAnon, NarAnon, or CODA. Volunteer to tutor children born addicted. Anything that can take that passion and turn it around. It can help to tell an old story in a new way. 🙂 Thank you. 🙂 And I never _meant_ to “shut down” opposing viewpoints. Rather, I was attempting to show that those viewpoints may have been only partial points-of-view in regards to this addiction. My writing style can be quite blunt or unnecessarily argumentative sometimes and I realize this hurts my message. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/147 "2012-05-02T23:35:19Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > People aren’t annoyed that you wanted to discuss the subject, or even that you are wrong about many things. They’re annoyed because you’re obstinately sticking to your claims, even when it has been pointed out how ridiculous many of them are. They’re annoyed because you’re acting like you’re the only person who has ever researched or had some sort of personal experience with substance abuse. What “ridiculous” claims of mine have been rebutted with any sort of cite? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/148 "2012-05-02T23:43:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > What on earth does that have to do with anything? There is a certain amount of the active ingredient in every dose, no matter how pure it is. The difference is the delivery system. No amount of inert ingredients makes any difference. The cooking process neutralizes the cocaine (i.e. takes it from a salt form to a free base form). This is done so it can be smoked at a reasonable temperature without destroying the cocaine. It has nothing to do with impurities. The post I was responding to was one in which the poster expressed disbelief at the idea that crack was in fact a purer form of cocaine than powder cocaine (typically). I wasn’t making a claim that crack had higher levels of the active ingredient than coke; rather that it was a purer substance. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/149 "2012-05-03T07:00:53Z")
A good friend of mine smoked crack, among other things, when he was a teenager. Not sure about the sex, honestly, I think he was just into the highs and altered states of drugs. I don’t know how long he was into it. I think he moved on to pot, plus some really esoteric stuff that aided in mystical experiences, and as far as I know he’s largely off street drugs now–though he’s still a mystic, and probably takes something bizarre for certain occasional esoteric experiences. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/150 "2012-05-03T11:55:13Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > The post I was responding to was one in which the poster expressed disbelief at the idea that crack was in fact a purer form of cocaine than powder cocaine (typically). I wasn’t making a claim that crack had higher levels of the active ingredient than coke; rather that it was a purer substance. Please explain your definition of “pure”. I’m just not getting it. If you add Substance A to Substance B, isn’t the resulting substance C inherently less “pure” than Substance A was to start? If I add water to lemon juice and sugar, I get lemonade. Lemonade is some tasty, tasty stuff, but it’s not as “pure” as water, right? Or, I suppose if you wanted to look at it another way, it’s not as “pure” as the lemon juice, because now it’s got all this water and sugar in it. How can crack be more “pure” than powdered cocaine when powdered cocaine is one of the ingredients of crack? ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/151 "2012-05-03T12:33:46Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What “ridiculous” claims of mine have been rebutted with any sort of cite? Your claim that all regular crack users inevitably turn to prostitution was refuted by the example of Whitney Houston. You admitted that you didn’t think she turned to prostitution. ---
**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 3, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/152 "2012-05-03T13:27:08Z")
And meth is much more of “sex” drug than crack anyway. ---
**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 3, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/153 "2012-05-03T17:22:28Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > And meth is much more of “sex” drug than crack anyway. Do celebrities use meth though? I’m now confused with all these rules. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/154 "2012-05-03T19:25:40Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > Do celebrities use meth though? I’m now confused with all these rules. No, hillbillies use meth. That’s why it’s called hillbilly crack. But then I don’t know what the Clampetts or Dolly Parton would smoke then. Maybe they’d alternate. ---
**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 3, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/155 "2012-05-03T19:31:27Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No, hillbillies use meth. That’s why it’s called hillbilly crack. But then I don’t know what the Clampetts or Dolly Parton would smoke then. Maybe they’d alternate. Lindsey Lohan has always struck me as a possible meth user. She has that “look.” ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/156 "2012-05-03T21:22:45Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Lindsey Lohan has always struck me as a possible meth user. She has that “look.” Is there any drug that Lindsay Lohan hasn’t done? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/157 "2012-05-03T23:56:03Z")
> [@MrDurden](#): > > What’s with the thing about sex addiction going hand in hand with crack? > > Sure plenty of addicts have multiple addiction, but it’s not like crack is some sort of ‘spanish fly’ In fact, too much leads to inability to perform/function as it constricts blood flow. It certainly does not activate the flow of sexuality that MDMA does. > > Lots of things in this thread are incorrect or tainted from personal experiences with random addicts on the street. > **[Redirect Notice](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=crack%20cocaine%20and%20porno&source=web&cd=44&ved=0CDAQFjADOCg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.detox-narconon.org%2Fblog%2Fcrack-cocaine-abuse%2Fcocaine-abuse-sex-and-porn-and-the-recipe-for-rehab%2F&ei=ahijT5D4A8mu6AG0p6wi&usg=AFQjCNFi8hn7OI2BtS33tQt6CjbSda2JUg)** Now granted, this is just one professional in the treatment arena. But similar stories and accounts are numerous. ---
**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 4, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/158 "2012-05-04T00:01:43Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Lindsey Lohan has always struck me as a possible meth user. She has that “look.” Since Lindsay Lohan was dating a woman briefly, then clearly meth makes people lesbians. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/159 "2012-05-04T00:14:18Z")
[http://www.crackreality.com/discussion\_group\_3\_0\_10/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4201&p=33825&hilit=Search…crack%2Fsex+connection#p33825](http://www.crackreality.com/discussion_group_3_0_10/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4201&p=33825&hilit=Search%E2%80%A6crack%2Fsex+connection#p33825) [http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=ce270d38103a630c3181db372a25a052&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fshowthread.php%3Fp%3D15030552%23post15030552&v=1&libid=1336090389184&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dcrack%2520cocaine%2520and%2520porno%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D44%26ved%3D0CDAQFjADOCg%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.detox-narconon.org%252Fblog%252Fcrack-cocaine-abuse%252Fcocaine-abuse-sex-and-porn-and-the-recipe-for-rehab%252F%26ei%3DahijT5D4A8mu6AG0p6wi%26usg%3DAFQjCNFi8hn7OI2BtS33tQt6CjbSda2JUg&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fsearch.php%3Fsearchid%3D7985650&title=Have%20you%20ever%20really%20KNOWN%20a%20crackhead%3F%20-%20Page%204%20-%20Straight%20Dope%20Message%20Board&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26amp%3Brct%3Dj...tQt6CjbSda2JUg&jsonp=vglnk\_jsonp\_13360903962811](http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=ce270d38103a630c3181db372a25a052&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fshowthread.php%3Fp%3D15030552%23post15030552&v=1&libid=1336090389184&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dcrack%2520cocaine%2520and%2520porno%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D44%26ved%3D0CDAQFjADOCg%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.detox-narconon.org%252Fblog%252Fcrack-cocaine-abuse%252Fcocaine-abuse-sex-and-porn-and-the-recipe-for-rehab%252F%26ei%3DahijT5D4A8mu6AG0p6wi%26usg%3DAFQjCNFi8hn7OI2BtS33tQt6CjbSda2JUg&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fsearch.php%3Fsearchid%3D7985650&title=Have%20you%20ever%20really%20KNOWN%20a%20crackhead%3F%20-%20Page%204%20-%20Straight%20Dope%20Message%20Board&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26amp%3Brct%3Dj...tQt6CjbSda2JUg&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13360903962811) So these are two different addiction professionals discussing the role sex plays in crack addictions. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-really-known-a-crackhead/620472/160 "2012-05-04T00:15:01Z")
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