Author: Alex Thompson

Damage Cocaine Does to the Nose; Long-term and Short-term FHE Health

what happens when you snort cocaine

Cocaine nose bleeds are a common side effect of constant cocaine use. When the drug enters the body intranasally, the substance comes into contact and irritates the inner part of the nose, where there’s a thin layer of skin and a heavy blood supply. Cocaine also enters the bloodstream through the mucous membrane, which also becomes irritated as cocaine causes the blood vessels to constrict. The soft tissues in the upper nose and palate will suffer first, causing holes to appear throughout the nasal cavity, which will cause further issues. A frequently cited effect of Cocaine abuse is the eroding of the septum (tissue separating your nostrils), which causes the ridge of the nose to buckle.

All central nervous system stimulants, including cocaine and crack cocaine, come with certain dangers. Cocaine in particular is highly addictive, which can lead to repeated drug use over time and increase the risk of severe side effects or adverse reactions. While unpleasant, a sinus infection poses no serious threat, but when snorting Cocaine more regularly, the nose will not have time to heal.

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. Long-term cocaine use can cause auditory and tactile hallucinations, causing you to hear and feel things that aren’t there. All of these methods involve the use of a device, like a needle, pipe, or straw. Sharing any of these can introduce infection into the bloodstream through your veins, or through small cuts or sores in the mucus membranes. This means you need more of a substance to get the same effect you once did.

what happens when you snort cocaine

The impact on physical and mental health can be severe, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive healthcare interventions to address the complex challenges of cocaine addiction and drug abuse. Most people know that long-term cocaine use can have lasting effects on the brain, but what about in the short term? Furthermore, addiction treatment requires a multi-layered approach for maximum success. The best and safest option to get off cocaine is using one of the many treatment programs we offer at Recreate Life Counseling, a treatment center. We provide partial care and outpatient treatment options that provide therapeutic education and guidance for each individual to help them safely reintegrate into society. With the help of our team of therapists, we offer one-on-one group therapy and many other specialized options to fit each person’s needs.

There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The more you use it, the higher your risk for developing a substance use disorder. The combo leads to the production of a metabolite called cocaethylene, which is considerably stronger than cocaine or alcohol alone. Cocaine typically stays in your system for 1 to 4 days but can be detected for a couple of weeks in some people. Some people process cocaine into a rock and smoke it, which we’ll get to next.

Polysubstance Abuse Snorting Cocaine With Other Drugs

Once in the brain, Cocaine binds to certain receptors and guarantees that dopamine (the feel-good chemical) isn’t being removed as it normally would be. The body naturally creates dopamine when you engage in activities it enjoys like getting exercise, eating food, and having sex. The end stages of your body’s use of dopamine include specialized proteins which remove it from your brain’s receptors in order to recycle it. Using Cocaine essentially blocks those recycling proteins from accessing the dopamine, causing its effects to continue. This interaction creates the “euphoric” effect Cocaine exhibits upon use. The way the body processes Cocaine may seem complicated, but it only takes minutes to fully absorb the drug and feel its effects.

what happens when you snort cocaine

This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. The answer to this question depends greatly on a few different factors, but for the most part, the symptoms can hint to the answer. If the only symptoms you’re experiencing are an occasional burning sensation, loss of smell and infrequent nosebleeds, you may only need rest to reverse the damage that has been done. We are here to provide assistance in locating an Ark Behavioral Health treatment center that may meet your treatment needs. Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available. These signs and symptoms may be more noticeable when cocaine is taken in higher doses or being mixed with other drugs.

How to Heal Your Nose After Snorting Cocaine

You nor your loved one are under any obligation to commit to an Ark Behavioral Health treatment program when calling our helpline. Of course, inpatient treatment isn’t always the best or most practical option. People with jobs, families, and other obligations may find an outpatient treatment program more accessible. Emily’s experience also includes working with college students, clients with severe mental illness, and delivering crisis intervention services.

  1. The chosen method of ingestion can have different effects on the body, including how rapidly it enters the bloodstream and how it affects different systems in the body.
  2. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp.
  3. Still, cocaine is typically seen recreationally in the form of a white powder that a person may snort or mix with water and inject.
  4. Today, we’re more in tune with the dangers of cocaine use, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still looked at as normal, especially in populations known for partying hard.
  5. Sharing any of these can introduce infection into the bloodstream through your veins, or through small cuts or sores in the mucus membranes.

The difference between these two forms primarily affects how cocaine enters the body. But when it is snorted, it will take longer for crack to reach your bloodstream than when it’s smoked. But crack can also be converted back to powder cocaine by treating it with an acidic solution like lemon juice. Long-term nasal ingestion of cocaine can result in severe side effects and prolonged damage that’s often labeled as “coke nose” or “cocaine nose,” which can require medical intervention to repair. A “cocaine nose-job” is the medical process of repairing a deviated septum that was caused by regular intranasal use of the substance. Unfortunately, when a person decides to stop snorting cocaine, they may experience potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Mental health issues

When someone who uses cocaine regularly suddenly stops snorting the drug, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of cocaine withdrawal, or a cocaine crash, include fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability, increased appetite and sleeping difficulties. Over time, with chronic use, the interrupted blood flow cocaine causes can also permanently damage the delicate tissues inside your nose and other organs in the body.

Healthline does not endorse the use of any illegal substances, and we recognize abstaining from them is always the safest approach. However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate information to reduce the harm that can occur when using. If you use it, are considering using it, or are around anyone who does, read on. We’ll cover everything you need to know, like what to expect from the high, potential risks, and what to do if things go south. Where does the idea that cocaine is somehow not as serious as heroin, opiates or meth come from? A large part can probably be explained by the popular culture of yesterday and today.

Repeated inflammation is suspected of leading to immune system suppression in that area. Snorting Cocaine is not the fastest way to absorb it and feel the high. Though it’s not as fast as smoking or injecting, the drug’s effects can be felt for longer when it’s snorted.

Treatment Options For Cocaine Addiction

With effects ranging from intense happiness to a significant decrease in appetite, cocaine is a powerful substance that can be extremely addictive. If you are using cocaine and experiencing signs and symptoms of inflammation and damage, cocaine rehab can help you quit and allow your nose to heal. Once the powerful stimulant hits the blood vessels in the nose, it takes about three to five minutes to reach the brain. At that point, the user begins to feel a euphoric high and energetic rush that can last for approximately 15 to 30 minutes. When you snort or sniff a line of cocaine, the fine powder enters the mucous membranes of the nose. This position helps keep their airway open and can prevent choking in case they begin to vomit.

There are quite a few known interactions between cocaine and other substances, including over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications and other drugs. People use coke for its intense psychological effects, like euphoria and boosted confidence. But it can also produce some not-so-pleasant psychological and physical effects. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy.