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Cocaine has long been visible and normalized in pop culture, often seen as a status symbol among the rich and famous. Its use in powder form has been widely accepted among successful businessmen, actors, musicians and other celebrities, even though overdose death is a risk with the drug.
Despite its popularity, cocaine use takes a serious toll on the body, altering its functioning and affecting the individual’s physical and mental health. It’s looked at as normal, especially in populations known for partying. According to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, about one in 13 surveyed college students reported prior cocaine use. In this population, researchers observed a link between cocaine use and lower grade point averages, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, increased risk-taking behaviors and impulsivity.
In this article, we explore the graphic damage cocaine causes specifically to the nose, including initial damage, short-term side effects and severe injury from long-term use.
The Anatomy of the Nose
To grasp the reason and extent to which snorting cocaine damages the nose, it’s helpful to understand the nose’s external and internal anatomy.
Structure and Function of the Nose
The nose features a combination of outside parts, including bone, cartilage and fatty tissue, as well as complex internal structures.
External Anatomy
- Nasal root: the section of the nose between the eyebrows that connects the nose to the face
- Nasal dorsum: the middle section of the nose, also called the bridge
- Nasal apex: the bottom portion of the nose that tapers off into a rounded tip; this is where the nostrils and septum are
Internal Anatomy
- Nostrils: these are the holes that lead into the nasal cavities
- Septum: this is the bone and cartilage that separates the nasal cavities
- Conchae: also called turbinates, these are the folds along the nasal cavities that warm and moisten the air that enters the body
- Nose hairs: these hairs inside the nose that trap dirt and other air particles, keeping them from entering the lungs
- Nerve cells: the cells within the nose that communicate with the brain, providing the sense of smell
- Nasal cavities: this is the hollow spaces in the nose where air flows in and out
- Paranasal sinuses: the air-filled pockets connected to the nasal cavity that keep the nose moist by producing mucus
- Cilia: tiny, hairlike structures that trap dirt and particles
Role of the Nose in Respiratory Health
As the entrance to the respiratory system, the nose performs an important role in warming, filtering and adding moisture to air before it enters our lungs. It also houses the olfactory organs, which detect and process odors and give us our sense of smell.
How Cocaine Is Used
Cocaine can be taken in a variety of different ways, including injection, smoking and snorting, also called insufflation. Because of its relative ease, snorting is the most popular method. This may be due in part to the population of casual coke users — people tend to use cocaine on a whim at parties or buy it to have a good time on the weekend. Smoking or injecting the drug takes a more concrete commitment, which doesn’t match the casual nature of snorting coke.
Common Methods of Cocaine Consumption
- Snorting: This method involves ingesting cocaine in powder form
- Smoking: This method requires users to reduce cocaine to its solid, or freebase, form, called crack, allowing it to be smoked
- Injecting: injecting cocaine involves dissolving powder cocaine in a liquid, then using a syringe
Immediate Effects of Cocaine on the Body
After someone uses cocaine, the drug sends a rush of dopamine to the brain. This causes the brain to feel an intense burst of pleasure and triggers the feelings of energy and alertness we associate with being high. In this state, the individual tends to feel less hungry or sleepy, more talkative, more energetic and more likely to participate in risky behaviors.
Mechanism of Damage
Even in small amounts, cocaine use can cause severe damage to the nose. There are immediate side effects from snorting cocaine, including numbness and constricted blood vessels, as well as long-term ones such as pain and a loss of smell.
Chemical Properties of Cocaine
Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid that acts as a stimulant for the nervous system. The Drug Enforcement Administration recognizes it as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it has an accepted medical use in the United States (though it’s rarely used for medical purposes) but has a high potential for abuse. This drug comes from the coca leaves grown in Bolivia, Columbia and Peru and is processed in remote jungle labs, where it undergoes significant chemical changes. In most cases, it comes out of these labs in powder form.
Impact On Nasal Tissues
Even with short-term use, cocaine can have a severe impact on nasal tissues.
- Vasoconstriction And Reduced Blood Flow: Cocaine causes the blood vessels in the nose to narrow, reducing blood flow to nasal tissues, eventually causing tissue death
- Damage To Mucous Membranes: Cocaine irritates the mucus membranes, resulting in inflammation and ulcers. As a result, users typically experience chronic congestion, nosebleeds and an impaired ability to keep harmful particles in the air from entering the respiratory tract.
- Risk Of Infection And Chronic Inflammation: Constant irritation from cocaine use often leads to chronic inflammation, making the nasal passages more vulnerable to infection.
Graphic Damage Caused by Cocaine Use
The longer someone uses cocaine, the more damage their body experiences. However, even short-term use can drastically affect health and functioning.
Short-Term Effects on the Nose
- Nasal Irritation And Bleeding: An early sign of cocaine-related damage is a burning sensation in the nostrils and a consistently runny nose. Nosebleeds become more frequent as the cells inside the nose continue to break down.
- Sinus Infections: Constricted blood cells cause the sinuses to become blocked, providing the right environment for infections to occur. Additionally, the very act of snorting cocaine introduces contaminants to the nasal passage, potentially causing infections.
Long-Term Effects
- Perforation Of The Nasal Septum: Inflammation opens the door for fungal and bacterial infections. In fact, a 2015 study in Laryngoscope found that habitual intranasal drug use led to a type of fungal infection that caused the inside of the nose to fall apart, with some patients forming holes in their septums or developing necrosis (cell death) in the nasal cavity.
- Collapse Of The Nasal Structure (Saddle Nose): Cocaine use can cause deformity by breaking down nasal tissues, eventually causing the bridge of the nose to collapse.
- Scarring And Chronic Nasal Congestion: Repeated damage from infections and inflammation can cause permanent scarring to the nasal tissue and result in chronic congestion.
Prevention and Awareness
The longer an individual uses cocaine, the higher the chance becomes for permanent damage. Understanding the impact of this drug is key to preventing casual use and avoiding addiction.
Resources for Support and Recovery
For those living with a cocaine addiction, several resources provide support and help for the journey to recovery:
- Treatment Centers: Many specialized treatment centers have professionals who understand cocaine addiction and provide tailored inpatient and outpatient cocaine detox and treatment.
- Support Groups: Groups such as Narcotics Anonymous provide peer support and a structured program for addiction recovery.
- Online Resources: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides free, confidential help through its national helpline, which callers reach at 1-800-662-HELP.
- Health Care Providers: An individual’s primary care provider can help create a personalized treatment plan with referrals for specialists and support services.
Conclusion
While cocaine use may be normalized, especially snorting cocaine, this doesn’t mean that it isn’t dangerous. In addition to being highly addictive, cocaine has significant short- and long-term side effects that can permanently alter the user’s quality of life. Internal and external damage to the nose leaves many individuals with chronic inflammation and infections, impairing their ability to breathe comfortably and prevent harmful irritants from entering their respiratory system.
Fortunately, there’s help for those living with cocaine addiction. Health care providers, nationwide organizations, peer support groups and treatment centers can help individuals recover from substance use disorder. Contact FHE today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs and find out how we support those who are ready to be free from addiction.
