Snorting Cocaine

How Is Cocaine Snorted?

Cocaine is an illicit central nervous stimulant that is classified as a Schedule II drug by the DEA. It is naturally derived from the coca plant, commonly found in South America. The leaves are converted into white powder through chemical extraction, which is commonly snorted to produce a euphoric high.

Snorting small amounts of cocaine is referred to as a “bump,” which can be as small as 0.1 grams and is snorted off of keys, pen caps, or fingernails. An eight ball of cocaine is one eighth of an ounce or 3.5 grams.

Any amount of cocaine larger than a “bump” is usually divided up and arranged in “lines” or “rails” to be snorted. People often used credit cards or key cards to divide larger amounts of powdered cocaine into lines on a flat surface, commonly known as a “cocaine tray”. A cocaine tray can be any flat surface, like a coffee table, travel-sized mirror, book, or plate.

Once these lines are cut and arranged on a flat surface, they can be snorted through the nostrils with a long, hollow tube, such as a rolled-up dollar bill, a hollowed pen, or a plastic straw.

Why Do People Snort Cocaine?

People snort cocaine to achieve a euphoric high that usually lasts longer compared to injecting or smoking cocaine. Snorting cocaine is often misunderstood as a “safer” method compared to injecting or smoking cocaine. In reality, it is still very dangerous. Snorting cocaine results in:

• Increased energy
• Alertness
• Euphoria
• Increased sexual arousal

Cocaine’s euphoric high comes from the dopamine rush. Dopamine is the “feel good” brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that drives vital pleasurable natural behavior, such as eating, sex, and socializing.

Dopamine is also the primary neurotransmitter that is released in extremely high amounts when a person snorts cocaine. People are often chasing this dopamine euphoric rush when they snort cocaine. This rush of dopamine can lead to tolerance, increased cravings, and urges to use, and eventually addiction.

People may snort cocaine in social settings, as it is considered a “high-end” drug because it is expensive and is popular at parties and clubs. This social dynamic and peer pressure play a major role in normalizing snorting cocaine.

Cocaine Effects On The Nose

Snorting cocaine directly affects the nose, sinuses, and soft palate (the fleshy back of the mouth that separates the mouth and the nasal cavity).

Snorting cocaine intranasally can cause bone and cartilage damage to the nose, sinuses, and palate, to the point that it can be disfiguring and interfere with breathing and sleep. People often refer to this overall structural nasal damage from snorting coke as “coke nose.”

Cocaine is a powerful vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows the blood vessels in the nose when snorted, resulting in decreased blood flow to the nasal tissue. When blood flow is reduced, oxygen and nutrients to tissues are decreased, leading to tissue death, known as necrosis. When nasal tissue dies, sores and ulcers appear, which can become infected, and over time, the tissue can become so destroyed and thin that it leads to holes in the cartilage, resulting in its destruction and collapse.

This destruction of the nasal cartilage can cause a deviated nasal septum or a saddle nose, which are among the worst medical complications associated with coke nose. The nasal septum is an important structural component of the nose that separates the nostrils, and when damaged, whether it is perforated or collapsed, it can cause problems with breathing and sleeping, in addition to infections and deformities.

In late stages, surgery may not be able to restore the damaged nose to its former healthy state.

Other nose, sinus, and palate damage associated with cocaine use includes:

• A deviated septum
• Nose bleeds
• Septal perforations causing nasal collapse
• Sinus infections
• Palatal perforation

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What Are The Short-Term Effects Of Snorting Cocaine?

Short-term effects of snorting cocaine include the following:

• Nose bleeds due to damaged blood vessels
• Runny nose and chronic nasal congestion
• Hoarse voice due to post-nasal drip
• Redness, irritability, or inflammation

What Are The Long-Term Effects of Snorting Cocaine?

A frequently cited long-term effect of cocaine abuse is the erosion of the septum, signifying that soft tissue and cartilage are being destroyed. Other long-term effects of snorting cocaine include the following:

• Sinus infections, which if left untreated, can spread to the eyes, ears, and brain, which can affect vision, hearing loss, and cause a brain infection such as an abscess or meningitis
• Visible lesions on the inside and the outside of the nose
• A deviated septum, which can cause trouble breathing from one or both nostrils
• Loss of smell

How To Heal Your Nose After Snorting Cocaine

If your nose is damaged from cocaine, it is important to seek medical help to make sure there are no infections or severe damage. An otolaryngologist (ENT specialist), a plastic surgeon specializing in the nose and palate, and an oral maxillofacial surgeon may be needed to address nasal deformities associated with cocaine use.

Antibiotics may be needed for sinus infections or infected nasal tissue. Nose bleeds can often be treated with medications and in-office procedures (cauterization), usually under the care of an ENT. Most nasal damage from snorting cocaine can be corrected surgically; however, it is possible that the destruction is so severe that not even surgery can repair it.

How To Tell If Someone Is Snorting Cocaine

It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms associated with snorting cocaine to help your loved one seek professional help.

The following are signs and symptoms associated with cocaine:

• Consistent running nose
• Recurrent nose bleeds
• Overconfidence and risky behavior
• Irritability
• White powder residue around the nostrils
• Dilated pupils
• Increased energy and alertness
• Bloodshot eyes
• Significant weight loss
• Cocaine paraphernalia such as rolled up dollar bills, hollowed pen tubes, broken or cracked credit cards, razor blades, small baggies, etc.

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Find Treatment For Cocaine Addiction

Treatment for cocaine addiction typically includes detoxification and therapy, provided through either an inpatient rehabilitation program or an outpatient treatment program, depending on your needs and the severity of your addiction. Participating in these structured programs significantly improves the likelihood of a successful recovery.

For anyone considering treatment for cocaine addiction, it’s helpful to seek a substance abuse evaluation from an addiction professional to determine the right type of support.

Contact a treatment provider or visit our rehab directory today to explore your treatment options and get started.