Researchers are alerting the population to the lesions and dangers of cocaine consumption on several parts of the body.
Second most used drug among young people behind cannabis, cocaine is a real scourge. If this drug stimulates the brain, it has many side effects. Among other things, it can cause mood swings, paranoia, anxiety attacks and hallucinations. Worse still, its effects can be more severe if this drug is taken with alcohol.
However, the most well-known side effects relate to mental health. However, cocaine can also impact the body. It makes the heart beat faster, can cause dehydration, fever and risk of heart attack. But this drug can have other more devastating effects.
In any case, this is what experts from the National Health Service in Lanarkshire remind us. The latter point to a phenomenon that is as worrying as it is dangerous for the body: lesions caused on the nose, throat and ears.
Difficult-to-treat lesions on the nose area
Indeed, while the effects on the mind are dreadful, the effects on the body have worsened over the years. And this is due to the mode of consumption of this white powder. Indeed, cocaine is inhaled through the nose via a “sniff”. However, when it reaches the nose and then the throat, cocaine causes severe contraction of blood vessels.
Being a part of the body containing many small blood vessels, the nose is very quickly impacted. Moreover, as these vessels are very thin, they are more sensitive than others. In fact, it only takes a few sniffing sessions to destroy the nose.
However, this deterioration of the nasal vessels is difficult to treat. As a general rule, very heavy surgery is required to heal the impacted vessels. And in the worst case, you have to fit a new nasal prosthesis.
Cocaine: an even more dangerous drug if mixed
Losing your nose can therefore become a reality for cocaine users. But the ill effects of this drug can also travel up to the ears and down to the throat. However, the most worrying thing is that the number of cases continues to increase.
In an article published on the BBC websitethe researchers explain that the drug is mixed with other harmful products. Among the most dangerous, there are acids but also drugs used by veterinarians. However, taking treatments for animals is as dangerous as giving paracetamol to your dog or cat.
While 600,000 people admit to regularly using cocaine in France, the dangers of the drug are often minimized. But the loss of the nose is serious and it is therefore necessary to stop its consumption to avoid serious consequences.