Feelings from coke. Synthetic analogues of cocaine. The journey of cocaine. How does it spread anywhere in the world?

According to the Ministry of Health, in Russia “only” 58 people are addicted to cocaine - a hundredth of the number of registered drug addicts. And in society, “coke” is sometimes perceived as something frivolous, a kind of “fun for the elite.” However, this "frivolous" drug has the same effects on the brain as Alzheimer's disease. What is the harm of cocaine and how to find out if you are using it close person or not?

Text: Galina Diomidova

What is cocaine today

Cocaine is a drug that comes in the form of a white powder or small crystals (aka crack). Most often, cocaine is inhaled through the nose, but hardcore drug addicts dissolve the powder and inject it through a vein into the blood. Cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs, as it acts directly on the brain receptors and very quickly causes an addictive effect. It is because of this that it is necessary to constantly increase the frequency of administration and dosage. Cocaine use leads to death from respiratory failure, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage and heart attack.

Voted the best bass player of all time John Entwistle from the legendary The group Who, died of a heart attack caused by cocaine...Famous German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder died of a cocaine overdose when he was not yet 40 years old.... Singer Whitney Houston, suffering from heart failure, accidentally drowned in the bathtub in 2012, as pathologists later established...

But this is already the finale. And in the interval between the first dose and the sad outcome there is a time of suffering for the addict’s loved ones and his own ordeals.

In slang, cocaine is called: coke, coconut, Aunt Nora, ball, frost, refined sugar, coke, si, Charlie, coca, dust, loose, plague, sniffer, paradise, sneeze, sniff, snow, fun, white.

Cocaine and teenagers

The drug trade brings enormous profits. According to statistics from the State Drug Control Service, Russians spend about 10 billion dollars annually on the purchase of cocaine and other psychostimulants. Therefore, we can assume that there are many more cocaine addicts than are registered with the Ministry of Health.

Teenagers are the most fertile audience for the distribution of forbidden powder. The desire to “become cool”, “to be no worse than others”, “to try what it’s like” - these are the main reasons that encourage children to take up drugs. But teenagers also have internal problems of growth, their own sorrows and sorrows, their own problems that in their opinion are insoluble... And drug dealers are already right there. They will “help” and “lift your spirits” and “turn your life into an endless party.”

According to experts from Drug Free City, the most vulnerable to drug traffickers are:

1. Boys 10-16 years old, whose parents divorced and their mother has a new man.

2. Girls who are in love with drug addicts or drug dealers, who get them hooked on drugs.

Why do people take drugs

To keep up with others

To relax and disconnect

To cope with boredom

To look more mature

As a protest

To try

People think that drugs will alleviate, or even solve, all problems. But over time, the drug itself becomes a problem, and a much more serious one.

What should your family and friends be wary of?

Lie. To get money for a dose, a drug addict is forced to lie and get out all the time, piling up mountains of the most fantastic lies. Life forces him to be good psychologist, and he knows that the bolder the lie and the more naive the facial expression, the greater the chance that they will believe him and give him money.

Circle of friends. The drug addict makes new friends who experience chronic lack of money. Things start disappearing from the house.

What does a new drug addict experience?

1. Euphoria, his mood suddenly improves for no apparent reason. He becomes overly sociable and talkative. Talkativeness leads to the fact that a person voluntarily tells others about things that in his right mind he would prefer to keep silent about.

2.A surge of energy. A drug addict who is high has the feeling that he is about to fly away. I don't feel like sleeping at all. His physical capabilities seem limitless. However, experiments have shown that under the influence of cocaine, coordination of movements is sharply reduced. Hence falls and other life-threatening troubles.

3.Increasing mental activity. It seems to a person that all his abilities have been revealed, his memory has improved, and his ability to make decisions has sharpened. When the intoxication wears off, it turns out that the supposedly acquired knowledge has disappeared somewhere, and in general the person has done a lot of stupid things.

4.Excessive self-confidence. A weak-willed person thinks that everything he does is right. Fortunately, work started while under the influence of drugs is never completed. And thank God, because it is rarely reasonable. Excessive self-confidence in in this case is similar to delirium of one’s own grandeur and does not allow a critical attitude towards one’s own actions.

5.Strengthening sensory perception. The world is full of colors, sounds, smells. Like any psychostimulant, cocaine increases skin sensitivity. Therefore, a drug addict very often experiences skin hallucinations - goosebumps and “worms crawling under the skin.” At some stage, under the influence of the drug, a person may scratch himself until he bleeds in order to get rid of this “scratching and tickling.” The same happens with the other senses. At first, a person sees something that is not what it is, mistaking, for example, a toothbrush for a knife, a stranger for close relative. And then it comes to hallucinations, when knives and killers seem everywhere

6. Excitability and imbalance. Having taken coke, the drug addict is in an elated, blissful state, which can instantly give way to irritation and aggression. Drug addicts themselves say that it is better not to touch a cocaine addict who is “high.” He can give a completely inadequate aggressive reaction.

7. The need to repeat the experience of intoxication. First one dose, then another, then another and another... But it is important to understand that a person can get the full range of pleasure only when using cocaine for the first time. The desire to repeat it leads to an increase in the dose and frequency of taking the drug. This is one of the main mechanisms of mental dependence.

Sign of cocaine addiction

It is possible that using cocaine once or twice will not lead to addiction. Some consumers even claim that you can use “coke” all your life and not be addicted. However, according to narcologists, addiction begins much earlier than the stage when the cocaine addict begins to skip work and, in order to earn money for a dose, sell things from home and steal. When cocaine begins to occupy the main place in a person’s thoughts, when he builds all his plans (for the evening or for vacation) around the drug, this is the main sign of addiction.

How dangerous is cocaine?

Cocaine and other drugs are essentially poisons. The effect of a drug is determined by its quantity. A tiny dose accelerates the processes occurring in the body and stimulates them. A slightly larger dose slows down and calms down. A little more - and the dose can kill.

But there is another problem. Cocaine directly affects the mind, distorting the perception of the world around us. As a result, human actions become inadequate, irrational, meaningless and even destructive.

As it turned out, the brain structure of cocaine addicts is different from the brain of ordinary people, in particular, the reduced size of the cerebellar tonsil. This "miniature" influences their ability to analyze possible consequences of your actions. By the way, scientists also found similar deviations in people suffering from manic depression and Alzheimer's disease.

Consequences of cocaine use

Loss of appetite

Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, temperature

Constriction of blood vessels

Dilated pupils

Restless sleep

Nausea

Overexcitement

Strange, erratic, sometimes dangerous behavior

Hallucinations, overexcitement, irritability

Tactile hallucinations (worms crawling under the skin)

Euphoria (extremely cheerful attitude towards the world around you)

Painful anxiety, suspicion, fear

Depression

Strong need for a new dose of drug

Panic, psychosis

An overdose, even a single one, can lead to convulsions, respiratory arrest, and unexpected death.

Side effects and long-term consequences

Irreversible damage to the blood vessels of the heart and brain

Cocaine is considered one of the most expensive drugs. Cocaine intoxication is accompanied by feelings of lightness and happiness, increased endurance and ability to work. The duration of this state depends on the method and duration of drug use; the effect can last 15-20 minutes, or it can last for an hour and a half. Due to the short duration of drug intoxication, it is difficult to control the dosage of the drug, which is why cocaine addicts often overdose.

Cocaine is used in several ways: injected, consumed in paste form, inhaled or rubbed into the gums, etc. With any method of use, the effect is approximately the same. Cocaine is an effective stimulant, so even one-time use can provoke serious intraorganic disorders. But how does it work?

When taking cocaine, the pleasure center located in the brain is stimulated. As a result, a person falls into a state of euphoria, which is quickly replaced by opposite sensations, which are manifested by depression, lack of appetite, loss of strength and sleep disturbances. As a result, addicts experience tachycardia, paranoia, convulsions, and may develop a stroke or heart attack.

To eliminate depression, a cocaine addict requires a constant increase in dosage. He is not able to give up the drug on his own, because without cocaine he is overcome by severe depression, which can lead to suicide.

Physical health

Usually the effect of the drug does not last long; after 15-20 minutes the addict is released, and he needs a new dose. Negative Impact cocaine is reflected in many intraorganic structures.

Brain

After consuming a dose, the pleasure center in the brain structures is activated, which puts the cocaine addict into a euphoric state. The effect of cocaine on the brain causes disruptions in biochemical processes and the rapid development of cocaine addiction. When cocaine enters the body, like stress, it affects the nucleus accumbens of the brain. In addition, the drug also affects the genetic level, suppressing genes responsible for depression.

In return, cocaine causes the formation of neurons that protect the body from depressive effects, but only in a state of cocaine intoxication. Therefore, the rest of the time, depression dominates in the brain of a cocaine addict, which can only be restrained by another drug dose. Convulsions occur due to intense brain stimulation.

Effect of cocaine on brain neurons

Heart

Cocaine provokes spasms of the heart arteries and affects the electrical activity of the myocardium, which can lead to a heart attack even in relatively healthy patients. Medical practice describes a case where, after the death of a cocaine addict with 15 years of experience, an autopsy was performed and the heart was removed. Incredibly, it beat for another 25 minutes after the actual death of the drug addict. It’s just that myocardial cells have adapted to drugs. Due to constant narrowing of the cerebral vessels and overload of the heart, the patient’s heart rate was noticeably increased. This helped the heart adapt to ischemia and become resistant to oxygen deficiency. As a result, it was able to work without oxygen for such a long time.

Muscle tissue

A characteristic disease of cocaine addicts is rhabdomyolysis, which is the death of skeletal muscles. Cocaine affects muscle tissue, destroying them. As a result, myoglobin enters the blood, then clogs the kidney tubules, which provokes the occurrence of acute kidney failure.

Myoglobin is toxic to the body; it causes metabolic disorders and life-threatening conditions.

Respiratory system, lungs

Against the background of frequent cocaine use, a drug addict usually develops chronic forms of pulmonary pathologies, bronchitis or throat diseases. If a cocaine addict smokes the drug, he soon develops shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and may develop asthma, arterial thrombosis, or pulmonary infarction.

Other organs

Despite its reputation as an aphrodisiac, cocaine also has a destructive effect on a person’s sexual abilities, which is manifested by the inability to fully complete sexual intercourse. With chronic cocaine addiction, drug addicts experience disturbances and delays in ejaculation, decreased libido, etc.

With systematic use of cocaine, a narrowing of the gastrointestinal vessels occurs, which causes hypoxia, against the background of which ulcerative and perforating processes occur in the tissues of the intestines and stomach.

The action of this powerful leads to the fact that from absolutely healthy people soon they become disabled, or even death. And given the above, the answer to the question of whether cocaine is harmful is completely obvious.

The effects of cocaine use

Psychological problems

Experts call cocaine intoxication manic-like. Various psychological changes occur under the influence of cocaine:

1. Euphoria - characterized by a sudden and acute rise in mood, incredible joy, happiness, etc. The addict becomes sociable and friendly, easily shares his life story with people, etc.;
2. Mental activity increases. It seems to a drug addict that he has limitless mental capabilities, since he quickly remembers an incredible amount of information and easily perceives it. But after the cessation of drug intoxication, everything that was easily perceived and remembered almost instantly disappears. To remember that information again, another dose of cocaine is needed. Experts explain this phenomenon by double memory. Under the influence of the drug, neurocellular reserves are depleted, and the ability of memory to retain information gradually weakens.
3. Energy charge. A powerful surge of energy literally overwhelms the cocaine addict, who begins to feel light and cheerful. It seems to him that he has unlimited abilities. But this is just a fiction; in fact, motor coordination changes noticeably after taking the drug, and the accuracy of movements is lost. For many people, after a single dose of cocaine, the need for sleep disappeared, that is, persistent insomnia set in;
4. Sensory perception is enhanced. Under the influence of cocaine, all senses are heightened. It may seem that your hearing and vision have improved significantly. They begin to see each other clearly the smallest details, the colors of the surrounding world become brighter. Tactile touches cause sharp or unpleasant sensations. A person may feel like he is being bitten by insects, someone is crawling under his skin, etc. Against the background of hallucinations, cocaine psychosis develops;
5. Self-confidence increases. Under the influence of cocaine, a person begins to believe that all his actions are the only correct ones. This state is similar to delusions of grandeur and is accompanied by complete confidence in one’s actions;
6. Excessive anxiety. Although the cocaine addict is under the influence of a euphoric state, he still remains overly excitable. Bliss and happiness can suddenly give way to causeless aggression;
7. Addiction. Gradually, the previous doses no longer cause the former, but you really want to experience that euphoria again. This indicates the development of addiction. But the feeling that you had when you first used cocaine will never happen again.

When the drug no longer works, anxiety, depression and fatigue arise, the person cannot experience pleasure, he gets chills and trembling, suffers from pain, and is unable to concentrate. In some patients, cocaine withdrawal may trigger suicidal thoughts and actions.
Video about the effects of cocaine:

How much does it leave the body?

The duration of action of cocaine is insignificant and the effect usually lasts no more than half an hour, although sometimes it lasts up to 1-1.5 hours. At the same time, it is worth considering how long the drug lasts in a person’s blood and urine.

The presence of cocaine in the body can be determined using rapid tests or traditional urine and blood tests. Cocaine metabolites remain in urine for 48-72 hours and only then the substance is excreted naturally.

Cocaine can only be detected in the blood within a few hours after consumption. Cocaine can also be detected in hair, which indicates regular cocaine use. If necessary, specialists can test saliva, nails, hand washes and other biomaterials for the presence of drugs.

Cocaine metabolites can be detected in hair within 3 months (if the hair is short), nails will reveal cocaine use within six months, and saliva within 5 days.

Cocaine addiction is quite complex. mental condition, because the cocaine addict is psychologically unable to give up the drug. Such an addiction is quite difficult to treat if it lasts for a long time, and the consequences of taking cocaine can be very disastrous. Therefore, it is better not to indulge in dubious pleasures and not start using cocaine.

Cocaine, an expensive way to get high, has its own secret. Dubbed the "caviar of street drugs," cocaine is regarded as a status drug used by celebrities, models and Wall Street entrepreneurs. Films and books have extensively covered the production and use of cocaine.

In reality, after the euphoria comes the severe consequences of cocaine use. Cocaine has powerful negative effects on the heart, brain and emotions. Many people who use cocaine become addicted with long-term and life-threatening consequences and must undergo drug treatment. Even casual use of cocaine carries risks sudden death associated with its use. Below you will read the unvarnished truth about cocaine and its consequences.

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Coca, Cocaine and Crack

Cocaine is a purified extract from the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca bush. This plant grows in the Andes region of South America. Different chemical processes produce two main forms of cocaine:

Dry cocaine - commonly known as "coca" or "blow" - dissolves in water. Users can snort or inject powder cocaine.

Crack cocaine - known as "crack" or "crystal" - is produced by chemical process, which leaves behind refined cocaine that can be smoked.

About 14% of US adults have tried cocaine. One in 40 adults used it in the past year. Young people aged 18 to 25 are the main users of cocaine, with 8% having used it in the previous 12 months.

Cocaine: Anatomy of Euphoria

Smoking or injecting cocaine produces an almost immediate effect. The rapid absorption by the nasal tissues makes snorting cocaine almost as effective. Regardless of the method of administration, cocaine quickly enters the bloodstream and penetrates the brain.

In the brain, cocaine affects chemical messengers—neurotransmitters—used to connect nerves to each other. Cocaine blocks the absorption of norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine and other neurotransmitters. The resulting chemical formations between the nerves cause euphoria, or a feeling of “high.”

What's so appealing about being high on cocaine? People who use cocaine often describe the feeling of euphoria as follows:

• increasing feeling of energy and alertness
• extremely high spirits
• Feeling superior

On the other hand, some people describe other feeling notes along with the high:

• irritability
• paranoia
• restlessness
• anxiety

Signs of cocaine include:

• dilated pupils
• high levels of energy and activity
• excited, violent speech

Cocaine's immediate effects wear off in 30 minutes to two hours. Smoking or injecting cocaine results in a faster and shorter high, compared to snorting coke.

Physiological effects of cocaine

Cocaine produces powerful highs by affecting the brain. But just as cocaine passes through the bloodstream, it affects the entire body.

Cocaine is responsible for more than the US emergency care visits than any other illegal drugs. Cocaine damages the brain, heart, blood vessels, lungs - and can even cause sudden death. Here's what happens in the body:

Heart. Cocaine is bad for the heart. Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure by narrowing the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The result can be a heart attack, even in young people without heart disease. Cocaine can also cause a fatal heart rhythm disorder called arrhythmia.

Brain. Cocaine can constrict blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes. This can happen even in young people who have no other risk factors for stroke. Cocaine causes seizures and may lead to strange or aggressive behavior.

Light and Airways. Snorting cocaine damages the nose and sinuses. Regular use may cause nasal perforation. Smoking crack cocaine irritates the lungs and, in some people, causes permanent lung damage.

Gastrointestinal tract. Cocaine constricts the blood vessels supplying the intestines. As a result, oxygen starvation can cause ulcers and even perforation of the stomach or intestines.

Kidneys. Cocaine can cause sudden, overwhelming kidney failure through a process called rhabdomyolysis. In people with high blood pressure, regular use of cocaine may accelerate long-term kidney damage caused by high blood pressure.

Sexual function. Although cocaine has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, it may actually make you less able to finish what you start. Chronic cocaine use can lead to decreased sexual function in men and women. In men, cocaine can cause delayed or impaired ejaculation.

Cocaine: Psychological Effects and Addiction

Cocaine acts in deep areas of the brain. It is in these areas that will reward us for " good behavior" - those activities that lead to food, sex, and healthy pleasures. Stimulating this area of ​​the brain with cocaine feels good. And this can create a powerful craving to use more cocaine. Repeated use of cocaine leads to tolerance (that is, higher doses required to achieve the same effect), dependence, and addiction.

There is no "safe" frequency of cocaine use. It is impossible to predict whether a person will become physically or psychologically dependent on cocaine.

After using cocaine regularly over a long period of time, addiction develops. When addiction is present, stopping cocaine suddenly leads to withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal from cocaine are more psychological than physiological. Typically, cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:

• depression and anxiety
• fatigue
• difficulty concentrating
• inability to experience pleasure
• increase cravings for cocaine
• physical symptoms including aches, pain, shaking, and chills

Withdrawal of cocaine from the body is rarely accompanied by serious consequences. For some people, withdrawal from cocaine can cause suicidal thoughts. Typically, withdrawal symptoms from cocaine addiction subside within one to two weeks. However, intense cocaine cravings may return, even years after your last use.

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that gives a person a temporary feeling of euphoria and mental clarity. Cocaine is highly addictive, and its use can lead to serious health problems, including overdose and death. It is not easy to determine whether a person is using cocaine or not, since these symptoms are very similar to those of other diseases. This article lists some signs to look out for if you're worried that a relative, friend, or coworker is using cocaine.

Steps

Part 1

Look for white powder on the person's nose. Cocaine is a white powder that is usually taken intranasally (snorted through the nose). Look at the person's face and nose. Even if a person has wiped away traces of cocaine, you may still find traces of the powder on the person's clothing or on things they have used.

• Check for items under the bed or under a chair that may have been used as a surface for snorting cocaine.
• A person can justify himself by saying that it is powdered sugar, flour or another harmless substance. If this is not the first time you have noticed this, especially in places where the use of flour or powder is impossible (for example, on a magazine under the bed), then most likely it is cocaine.

1. Regular use of cocaine by snorting through the sinuses can lead to chronic inflammation and nasal congestion. Often people who use cocaine have persistent cold symptoms, but they are actually healthy.

   Pay attention to the person's eyes. Because it is a powerful stimulant, people who use cocaine often have red, bloodshot eyes. Pay attention to this sign. Cocaine causes insomnia, which is why a cocaine user's eyes are especially red in the morning.

   Dilated pupils may indicate that a person is using cocaine. If you suspect that a person is using cocaine, pay attention to his pupils - they can be quite dilated even in a room with good lighting. A person may experience pain in bright light. Also, pay attention to the glasses - perhaps he wears them to reduce discomfort.

   Pay attention to the marks of injections on the human body. Some drug addicts sometimes dilute cocaine and inject it intravenously. Pay attention to the person’s hands, forearms, and legs, and check if there are any traces of injections. People who inject cocaine have marks on their arms called "tracks." Therefore, pay special attention to this.

   Pay attention to the person's belongings that he may use for drug use. Cocaine is consumed in powder form. Crack is a cheaper version of cocaine that is smoked. Cocaine is also administered intravenously. Typically, a person uses various items for this.

   Pay attention to the consequences. A person who has taken a large dose the night before feels lethargic and depressed in the morning. You may have noticed that the person woke up irritated. There is a possibility that this is because he took a large dose in the evening. If you notice sudden changes in a person’s behavior, this is a reason to think about it.

   • Very often a person tries to retire. If you notice that a person closes the door in his room and does not leave it long time, this could be a sign of drug use.
   • Some people use sedatives and alcohol to combat the effects of cocaine. In addition, drug addicts fight insomnia in this way.

2. Observe long-term changes in the person's behavior or character. Over time, a person becomes more and more dependent on cocaine. His main task becomes the search for the next fix, which can cause serious harm to other daily responsibilities. Pay attention to the following signs that will indicate that a person has been using drugs for a long time:

3. People who use drugs often experience financial problems. Cocaine is a very expensive drug. Sometimes, due to long-term cocaine use, people lose their jobs, which affects their financial condition.

   • Perhaps a person asks to borrow money without saying where he is going to spend it.
   • Dependent people often take sick leave, are late, and rarely deliver work on time.
   • These people may start stealing or selling their belongings to continue to finance their drug addiction.

Part 3

1. Talk to the person about this problem. This is much better than just remaining silent. Tell the person that you have noticed that they are using cocaine and that you are concerned about their health and well-being. Say that you want to help the person overcome their habit or addiction.

   • Don't wait until a person becomes so addicted that they can't get out of it. Cocaine is too dangerous a drug. Don't let the situation get out of control.
   • Bring specific examples, proving that a person uses cocaine. Be prepared for the person to deny their addiction.
2. • Definition of symptoms drug addiction- the first step on the path to recovery. Naturally, this can be extremely painful, especially if this person is your relative. Never stop supporting him or lose hope; There are many ways to treat drug addiction.

   Warnings

   • Cocaine overdose can lead to heart attack, cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure, dangerously high body temperature, kidney failure, delirium, convulsions and death. Many of these things can happen even after one dose. A heart attack or respiratory failure due to cocaine can occur in a person who has never used cocaine before, or in an addict with a high tolerance.

Incredible consumption growth cocaine in all sectors of society began in the 1960s. He attracted attention when the drug played main role in the Hollywood blockbuster Easy Rider. It became a super popular drug, and there was an explosion in demand for it, causing an increase in supplies from South America. International supply chains were formed and the names of drug cartels became common knowledge. The biggest drug lord of them all, Pablo Escobar, was one of the richest men in the world, earning millions of dollars every day.

Since Escobar's time, the cocaine business has expanded its product range. Now it is cocaine for any budget. This stuff costs £40 per gram. You can easily see the difference because it is powdery, while coke which one is worth? 80 grams, it's crystalline, you can even see a little sparkle. You just chop it up. This good material, you can taste the difference. It's cheap stuff and makes your nose hurt a little. This coke doesn't hurt your nose at all, it goes on nice and smooth.

Why is cocaine harmful?

Inhaling too much of any type of coke can damage your nose. The mucous membrane inside the nostrils is affected, causing the blood vessels to shrink and clot, depriving the surrounding tissue of blood and oxygen supply. Eventually, the tissue weakens and dies. This can cause a perforation to form in the nose. Surgery is often required to treat these injuries. Consultant surgeon Sandeep Paun is a leading specialist in nasal reconstruction. As a result of regular use cocaine, his patient developed a hole in his nose. He wished to remain anonymous. Today we are going to perform surgery to repair a perforation in your nasal septum. When was the last time you did this? I do it regularly last time six months ago. OK. There is no guarantee that we will be able to completely close the perforation. After consumption cocaine, the operation to close the perforation of the septum is quite difficult

The destructive power of cocaine

I only found out about the hole when I went to the doctor and he pulled blood clots out of my nose that were covering the hole, which looked really scary. And it was all his fault cocaine, drug. When you look at Daniella Westbrook, as soon as you see her, you will understand what happened to her, her nose has actually collapsed and the worst thing is that it can happen to you. During the operation, the patient's nose will be cut and divided into two parts. The picture is very illustrative. We'll just look into this gentleman's nose now. We move in through the nostrils, here internal view. We can see this hole on the front wall. In fact, this is a relatively small hole for a patient who is abusing cocaine It should be much bigger. Often these holes progress well beyond the size we see here. Knife please. Sometimes when you get the strip done, you will experience a very strong, unbearable burning sensation from the very beginning of your nose to the back of your throat, very painful. The next day, you wake up with blood clots and you're actually blowing bits of your nose out.

Harm from drug use

For chronic abuse cocaine, the perforation gets bigger and bigger, and the cartilage gets weaker and weaker because it doesn't have enough support. The top of the nose begins to deteriorate and one may eventually develop a boxer's appearance. Scissors please. I have had patients whose entire nasal septum was destroyed. They had one nasal cavity, and everything just fell inside. I smelled coke every day. You don't worry when you do it. But then, the nose hurts terribly, when the nose bleeds you regret that you did this.. So, we see inside the nose, the mucous membrane, on the one hand, you can see a hole in the membrane, first cocaine forms a hole in the membrane, and not in the cartilage, but then it eats away at the cartilage and ultimately forms a through hole.

About coke

Cocaine often mixed with all sorts of contaminants, including baking soda, glucose and, in worst cases, even talc, which can lead to an intense inflammatory reaction. This inflammation can cause tissue in the nose to die even faster. Ironically, Mr. Pown uses cocaine to stop the patient's bleeding. Patients don't inhale it beforehand, we give them a small amount in liquid form. I'm simply cutting out a small piece of cartilage from the back of the nasal septum, which we're then going to insert into the front. A little bit of cartilage will close the hole. So you can see here that the shell was completely closed where the hole was. If we look from the other side, there is no hole there now either. I carry out quite a lot of nose surgery in London. There's a lot of money floating around here. About once every few weeks, I see a patient who has problems related to their use. cocaine.