When you’re dealing with a cocaine addiction, it can be hard to see the harm you’re causing to your body over time.
As cocaine is usually ingested through the nose, it can lead to serious damage to the nasal passage and septum. Effects of cocaine use on the nose may take a while to show, but the damage begins as soon as the drug is taken.
In this blog, we’ll explore how cocaine affects the nose, what ‘coke nose’ is, and how you can treat the damage.
How Does Cocaine Impact the Nose?
One of the most common ways to take cocaine is to snort it through the nose. As such, it can have painful effects on the nose, nasal passage, and septum.
Cocaine has vasoconstrictive properties, which means it causes the blood vessels to narrow. When they constrict, blood flow to the nasal tissue is reduced, depriving it of oxygen. Over time, this lack of blood flow and nutrients can cause necrosis – death of the tissue.
Irritation and inflammation are common with excessive cocaine use, too. The more you expose your nose to the substance, the more irritation occurs, causing damage to the nasal structure.
As cocaine is toxic, consistent direct contact with the nose and nasal tissue can cause them to deteriorate. Additionally, certain types of cocaine contain other harmful ingredients like talcum powder or even other drugs, which can exacerbate the effects of cocaine on the nose.
Common Effects of Cocaine Use on the Nose
Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds are quite common with cocaine use, as the drug causes damage to the tissue inside and restricts the blood flow around the affected parts.
When you snort cocaine, the inside of the nose becomes dry, which causes it to be more fragile. Over time, this can make the blood vessels more susceptible to rupture. Once the blood vessel ruptures, it causes a nosebleed.
Nose Collapse
Excessive cocaine use over many years can cause severe damage to the nasal structure, leading to a condition called saddle nose deformity.
As cocaine shrinks the blood vessels, it causes the tissue inside the nose to deteriorate, eventually leading to the death of the cells. When this happens, saddle nose deformity can occur, which is a structural collapse of the nose.
Sinus Issues
Snorting cocaine can often cause recurring, chronic nose infections or a condition called rhinitis.
When you get a nose infection, the mucociliary clearance system helps to flush it out. Mucus traps the infection-causing bacteria, pushes them toward your throat and down into your digestive system, where stomach acids break them down.
With cocaine use, this system is impaired, meaning bacteria aren’t properly flushed out. As a result, infections can become chronic.
What is ‘Coke Nose’?
One of the most common effects of cocaine on the nose is a condition colloquially known as ‘coke nose’.
It’s a combination of all the effects cocaine can have on your nose – vasoconstriction, inflammation, necrosis, and irritation. Typically, coke nose only occurs with excessive, prolonged use of the drug. However, the effects can be devastating.
- Septum Perforation: ‘Coke nose’ can cause a hole to form in the cells between the nostrils, which is known as septum perforation.
- Saddle Nose Deformity: When tissue loss is extreme, the nasal bridge can collapse, affecting the look and function of the nose.
- Loss of Smell: When olfactory receptors – the proteins that detect smell – are damaged from coke nose, you can lose your sense of smell.
- Loss of Taste: Often, when you lose your sense of smell, your ability to taste is impacted as well.
You may also experience bleeding, scabbing, and crusting in and around the nose during the early stages of coke nose.
If you’re worried about the condition in yourself or a loved one, the NHS suggests you get in touch with your GP as soon as possible.
Can ‘Coke Nose’ Be Fixed?
Some of the milder symptoms of coke nose may be fixable, but those that cause structural damage are often hard to repair.
First things first, if you think you may have coke nose, you need to contact a medical professional. Your GP will be able to advise on the best course of action for the symptoms you have, as well as arrange referrals for additional medical care.
In some cases, plastic surgery may be offered to those who have a perforated septum, restoring the nasal lining and repairing the hole in the nasal cartilage. You can also get surgery for a collapsed septum, hiding the visible damage caused.
However, treating the cause at the source can help avoid coke nose altogether- addiction treatment. If you’re dealing with a cocaine addiction, seeking treatment can help prevent coke nose in the first place.
Does Cocaine Impact Your Body in Other Ways?
Yes, in addition to the effects on your nose, cocaine can also have serious short-term and long-term effects on the body and mind.
Cocaine is an addictive stimulant with serious implications for both your physical and mental health, including:
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Hypothermia
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
In fact, chronic use of cocaine can have life-changing, long-term effects on your body, such as:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Organ failure
- Brain damage
- Intestinal decay and ulcers
With prolonged use of smoking cocaine, you’re more susceptible to developing a condition known as ‘crack lung’. With this, it’s common to experience severe chest pain, fever, pneumonia, and breathing difficulties.
How to Treat Cocaine Effects on the Nose
In some cases, you may be able to get surgery for saddle nose deformity to reconstruct the nose. However, addiction rehabilitation is the best treatment for cocaine’s effects on the nose.
It’s important to quit the use of cocaine as soon as possible, to help prevent the effects of cocaine use from occurring in the first place. Detox isn’t easy, which is where rehab comes in.
Rehab is one of the best methods of treating addiction, as you get 24/7 support from a team of experienced addiction specialists. Here, you’ll be able to detox safely, before starting a bespoke treatment plan to replace addiction with healthy coping mechanisms.
Local group meetings, such as Narcotics Anonymous, put you in touch with people on their own recovery journey, helping you feel less alone. Support is a crucial part of recovery, and you can find this at local support meetings.
When to Seek Help for Cocaine Use
While we advise avoiding cocaine altogether to stay healthy, if you’re worried about an addiction to the drug, then it’s time to seek professional help.
It can be hard to know when you’re experiencing an addiction yourself, but there are a few signs you can look out for:
- Thinking about cocaine often throughout the day
- Unable to enjoy time with friends without cocaine
- Lying to loved ones about cocaine use
- Anxiety when you don’t have any cocaine
- Losing interest in hobbies outside of cocaine
- Taking time off work or school with no explanation
- Buying cocaine even when you can’t afford it
If you’ve noticed any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, get in touch with your GP, as they can refer you to relevant local support groups. You can also go to local Narcotics Anonymous groups. Use the UKNA website to find a meeting near you.
Stonebridge Communities Helps You on Your Journey to Cocaine Addiction Recovery
Here at Stonebridge Communities, we offer compassionate cocaine addiction rehabilitation to help people on their cocaine recovery journey.
With us, you get around-the-clock care from recovery specialists, including a dedicated aftercare package. If you’re worried about a cocaine addiction, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to see how we can help you.
You can reach us via phone on 01934 311965 or send an email to info@stonebridge.rehab. Alternatively, fill out our contact form for a call back from a member of our team.
