Cocaine nose is a condition affecting the nasal tissue that can be developed through the damaging behavior of snorting cocaine.
What is coke nose? Coke is slang for cocaine, hence coke nose is another way of saying cocaine nose.
Cocaine is a stimulant drug with addictive properties, often abused recreationally due to its euphoric effects. The misuse of cocaine leads to various harmful physical and psychological effects.
In this article, Avenues Recovery, leading addiction rehabilitation specialists, will focus specifically on the intranasal route of administration - i.e., how cocaine users snort the drug. We’ll also be examining what cocaine does to your nose and what coke nose is.
What Does Cocaine Do to Your Nose?
"Cocaine nose" is a term used to describe any damage caused to the nose by snorting cocaine, as well as eventual nose collapse from coke.
What Does Coke Nose Look Like?
Snorting cocaine can appear as several different types of cocaine nose damage, including nasal irritation and congestion, a deviated or perforated septum, tissue damage and sinus infections.
The various forms of nasal damage from cocaine use are detailed below:
Nasal Irritation and Inflammation From Cocaine
Cocaine is a vasoconstrictor - it narrows blood vessels. When snorted, cocaine can cause irritation and inflammation of the nasal passages due to reduced blood flow, leading to discomfort, pain, and potential bleeding.
Nasal Congestion From Cocaine
It is common to suffer from a persistent blocked nose from coke, making it difficult to breathe through the nose.
Deviated Septum From Cocaine
The septum is a thin wall of cartilage separating the nostrils. Prolonged cocaine use can lead to a deviated septum - the septum moving towards one side of the nose, making it difficult to breathe from one nostril.
Perforated Septum From Cocaine
A perforated septum is when deterioration of the septal tissue causes a perforation (hole) in the septum. This is also known as a hole in the nose from coke. Those with perforated nasal cartilage may hear a whistling when they breathe through their nose.
Nasal Tissue Damage From Cocaine
Cocaine use can damage the delicate mucous membranes lining the nasal passages. This damage can result in chronic runny nose, frequent cocaine nosebleeds, and discomfort.
Chronic Rhinitis From Cocaine
Cocaine use can lead to chronic rhinitis, which is inflammation of the nasal passages. This condition can further contribute to nasal congestion, discomfort, and an impaired sense of smell.
Sinus Infections From Cocaine
Damage to the nasal passages from cocaine can increase the risk of developing sinus infections and other respiratory issues. Bacteria can also enter the adjacent sinuses and even the brain cavity, causing an even more dangerous infection.
Saddle Nose From Cocaine
Saddle nose deformity from drugs such as cocaine occurs when the nose bridge collapses and sags, causing it to take the shape of a saddle. This occurs because the tissue inside the bridge of the nose slowly dies from a lack of blood supply, and it rots until the nose collapses.
How to Get Rid of Coke Nose
Many people who have used cocaine are looking for the solution to coke nose. Nasal damage can be fixed with a rhinoplasty procedure performed by a septal perforation specialist. The exact surgery will depend on the extent and nature of the damage. In order to fix coke nose, the specialist usually needs to reconstruct the nasal lining using forearm tissue.
Early medical or surgical intervention of cocaine nose may help halt the deformity and prevent it from deteriorating any further, so it is advisable for users to seek help as soon as they become aware of their coke nose problem.
It is important to note, though, that reconstructive surgery will not be successful if the patient continues to snort cocaine, as repeated use will simply damage the surgical repair. Therefore, before investigating how to fix coke nose, the first and most crucial step is to stop any cocaine use. If you or your loved one is suffering from cocaine addiction, reach out to us at Avenues Recovery today so that we can guide you on your path to sobriety.
Artie Lange’s Coke Nose
Comedian Artie Lange is often seen as the unfortunate poster boy for cocaine nose collapse, after abusing the drug for decades. Lange said that he won't fix his collapsed nose as it serves as a constant reminder to stay off drugs. This is an unconventional approach and something that many users donot want, seeing as it draws unwanted attention from other people who will be able to immediately identify their struggle with cocaine. This being said, if not fixing one’s nose is an effective incentive to stay sober, then it is definitely a commendable approach.
Treating Cocaine Addiction: The Prerequisite to Fixing Cocaine Nose
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that the majority of individuals who seek treatment for cocaine use are likely to be polydrug users, meaning they use more than one substance. Therefore, the residential drug treatment or IOP drug treatment of cocaine addiction needs to take on a multifaceted approach. Users need to receive treatment for both the physiological symptoms of their drug usage, such as changes to the brain, effects on the heart and cardiovascular system, and significant malnourishment caused by the appetite-suppressing nature of the drug.
Recovery treatment also needs to address a wide range of social, environmental, and familial factors - such as the circumstances that led the user to turn to drugs in the first place. Therapeutic intervention will help users develop the ability to recognize the situations in which they are most likely to use cocaine and how to avoid these situations.
Get Help for Cocaine Nose
At Avenues Recovery, cocaine treatment plans are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. They include a mix of behavioral and pharmacological interventions to really address the totality of the user and prevent any future relapse.
If you are struggling with cocaine nose from a coke addiction or have a loved one who is, contact Avenues Recovery today, where a trained specialist will talk you through the different treatment options available. Remember that you are not alone in your struggle; we’re here to help and guide you through every step of the recovery journey.