Cocaine has long been visible and normalized in pop culture. Its use is often seen as a status symbol among the rich and famous. The use of cocaine in powder form has been widely accepted among successful individuals, 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. Its use is looked at as normal, especially in populations known for partying. However, some significant risks are associated with using cocaine. In 2023, 29,449 deaths were associated with the drug — an 85% increase over the death rate in 2019.
In this article, we explore the graphic damage cocaine causes specifically to the nose, including initial cocaine nose 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 includes several external 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, connecting 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 where the nostrils and septum are located
Internal Anatomy
- Nostrils. The holes leading into the nasal cavities
- Septum. The bone and cartilage separating the nasal cavities
- Conchae. Folds along the nasal cavities, also called turbinates, that warm and moisten air entering the body
- Nose hairs. Hairs inside the nose that trap dirt and other air particles, keeping them from entering the lungs
- Nerve cells. Cells within the nose that communicate with the brain, providing the sense of smell
- Nasal cavities. Hollow spaces in the nose where air flows in and out
- Paranasal sinuses. Air-filled pockets connected to the nasal cavity that keep the nose moist by producing mucus
- Cilia. Tiny, hairlike structures on the inside of the nasal passages and sinuses that trap dirt and particles
Role of the Nose in Respiratory Health
The nose houses the olfactory organs, which detect and process odors and give us our sense of smell. As the entrance to the respiratory system, it also plays an important role in warming, filtering and adding moisture to air before it enters the lungs. Damage from using cocaine can have serious effects on this system.
How Cocaine Is Used
Cocaine can be taken in a variety of ways, including by injection, smoking and snorting, also called insufflation. Snorting is the most popular method because of its relative ease of use. This may be due in part to the population of casual coke users who tend to ingest the drug 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. Ingesting cocaine in powder form
- Smoking. Reducing cocaine to its solid or freebase form, called crack, so it can be smoked
- Injecting. Dissolving powdered cocaine in a liquid, then drawing it up in a syringe for injection
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 and more energetic. They’re also more likely to participate in risky behaviors.
Mechanisms of Cocaine Nose Damage
Can cocaine destroy your nose? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Even in small amounts, cocaine use can cause severe damage to the nose. There are immediate side effects from snorting cocaine, including localized numbness and constricted blood vessels, as well as long-term consequences such as persistent pain and a loss of the sense of smell.
The Chemical Properties of Cocaine
A tropane alkaloid, cocaine acts as a stimulant on the nervous system. The Drug Enforcement Administration recognizes it as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This means it has an accepted medical use in the United States (though it’s rarely used for medical purposes) but also a high potential for abuse. The drug comes from the leaves of coca plants 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.
Inside Coke Nose: The Impact on Nasal Tissues
Even with short-term use, cocaine can have a significant impact on nasal tissues. When snorted, it causes several effects:
- Vasoconstriction and reduced blood flow. Cocaine causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the nose, reducing blood flow to nasal tissues and eventually causing tissue death.
- Damage to mucous membranes. Cocaine irritates the mucous membranes, causing inflammation and ulcers. As a result, users typically experience chronic congestion and nosebleeds. The damage also reduces the membranes’ ability to stop harmful airborne particles from entering the respiratory tract.
- Chronic inflammation and risk of infection. 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 sustains. 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 constant runny nose. Nosebleeds become more frequent as the cells inside the nose continue to break down.
- Sinus infections. Constricted blood vessels cause the sinuses to become blocked, providing the right environment for infections to occur. Additionally, the very act of snorting cocaine introduces contaminants into the nasal passage, potentially causing infections.
Long-Term Effects
- Perforation of the nasal septum. Inflammation opens the door to fungal and bacterial infections. In fact, habitual intranasal drug use can lead to fungal infections or even cause the inside of the nose to fall apart. Individuals may develop holes in their septum or experience 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 of the nasal tissues and result in chronic congestion.
Prevention and Awareness
The longer an individual uses cocaine, the greater the likelihood of permanent damage. Understanding the impact of this drug is key to preventing casual use and avoiding addiction.
Resources for Support and Recovery
A number of resources offer support and recovery help for those living with a cocaine addiction:
- Treatment centers. Many specialized treatment centers have professionals who understand cocaine addiction and provide tailored inpatient and outpatient cocaine detox and treatment.
- Support groups. Organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous provide peer support and a structured program for addiction recovery.
- Online resources. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides free, confidential assistance through its national helpline.
- Health care providers. An individual’s primary care provider can help create a personalized treatment plan and arrange referrals to specialists and support services.
Finding Help to Stop Using Cocaine
While cocaine use, especially snorting the drug, may be normalized, it’s not a safe activity. In addition to being highly addictive, the significant short- and long-term side effects of cocaine use can permanently alter a person’s quality of life. Internal and external damage to the nose leaves many individuals with chronic inflammation and recurrent infections, impairing their ability to breathe comfortably and keep harmful irritants from entering their respiratory system.
If you or a loved one is living with cocaine addiction, help is available. Health care providers, nationwide organizations, peer support groups and treatment centers can help you recover from substance use disorder. If you’re ready to be free from addiction, contact FHE today to learn more about our treatment programs and the personalized support we offer.
