Cocaine-Induced Nosebleeds: Causes and Consequences

Snorting the highly addictive drug cocaine can cause a whole host of problems in its users, including lung and respiratory damage, heart problems, a higher risk of contracting infectious viruses, and accidental overdoses leading to death. Often, others will notice a changed appearance in their friend or loved one who is using cocaine, including the phenomenon of “cocaine face” or aged and bloated cheeks. Because it is snorted, the powder drug and any other substances it might be cut with cause irritation to nasal passages. With repeated use, this irritation can start to lead to more serious problems, including cocaine nose bleeds, holes in the hard palate and nasal passages, and damage to the septum.

So, what causes cocaine nose bleeds? Snorting cocaine constricts the nasal blood vessels, causing irritation and nose bleeds as signs of damage to the sensitive nasal tissues. If you’re wondering how to avoid these nose bleeds and other nasal problems, the only answer is to quit using cocaine immediately.

In California, Resurgence Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive cocaine addiction treatment program that can help you quit this drug once and for all and recover from the physical damage of drug use. Let’s explore how cocaine affects the noses of users and why this damage is so serious.

What Drug Causes a Perforated Nasal Septum?

Most frequently, cocaine is considered the main drug that can cause a perforated nasal septum, in addition to more minor nasal issues like cocaine nose bleeds. In addition to the physical effects, cocaine abuse can alter the brain and quickly lead to addiction. It’s also a well-known cause of nose problems because it is snorted, damaging the delicate nasal tissue and leading to serious issues with repeated use.

Some of this owes to how cocaine affects the nose, especially constricting blood vessels and causing erosion of nasal tissue. Eventually, this can lead to a collapsed or perforated nasal septum, which is a mass of bone and cartilage that separates the two nasal cavities and helps with airflow. If cocaine use causes too much damage, a hole can develop in the septum, and this can cause significant medical issues that require treatment.

What Are the Stages of Saddle Nose?

One nasal problem that can result from snorting cocaine is a saddle nose or a sunken bridge that makes the nose look like a saddle. Many things can cause the nasal bridge to collapse, but trauma, like a broken nose, is the most common cause. Nasal surgeries, certain diseases or infections, and hematoma can also lead to a saddle nose. Cocaine use is another potential cause, as it damages the nasal structure.

There are three stages of saddle nose:

• Minimal saddle nose
• Moderate saddle nose
• Major saddle nose

The nose tip can turn up in the most severe (major) stages due to bridge collapse and damage. Addressing the saddle nose most often involves a rhinoplasty or nose surgery, which includes grafting to rebuild the nose.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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Does Nose Cartilage Grow Back?

While the human body does show a remarkable ability to repair itself from damage in many ways, and cartilage can continue growing well into adulthood, cartilage of the septum does not actually regenerate or grow back once it’s removed. It won’t regrow if a hole develops due to cocaine use, either. That’s why surgical interventions to address septum or cartilage problems tend to involve the extensive use of grafts to rebuild and reshape the nasal passages and add support to the structure of the nose.

Over time, cocaine use causes reduced blood flow that deprives tissue of oxygen, and this is why nasal damage and collapse are very real risks of cocaine. This can also damage or destroy nose cartilage, and only limited options exist to address this. Basically, once nose cartilage is gone, it’s gone for good.

How Do You Tell if You Have Nasal Perforation?

A nasal perforation, also known as a perforated septum, happens when there’s a hole in the septum, and this can be caused by cocaine use. According to Healthline, the symptoms of this condition will depend on the size of the hole, while some people won’t have any symptoms at all. Possible symptoms of a perforated septum are:

• Nosebleeds, runny nose, and nose pain
• Feeling an obstruction in the nose
• Experiencing crusting or scabbing in the nose
• Headaches
• A bad smell

Doctors need to examine the problem to make a diagnosis of a perforated septum and determine how large the hole is to develop a treatment plan, which will typically involve surgery.

Avoid the Risks of Cocaine Nose Bleeds – Resurgence Can Help

Cocaine is highly addictive and dangerous, causing widespread mental and physical health challenges, social problems, and much more. While it’s a relatively minor outcome of using this drug, cocaine nose bleeds are a sign of the serious damage that this substance causes to our nasal passages, and over time, the damage can cause perforated septums and other major medical conditions.

That’s why it’s so important to know where to get help if you or a loved one is struggling with cocaine addiction. In Riverside, California, Resurgence Behavioral Health has a comprehensive addiction treatment program that is personalized to each patient. Often, those who are addicted to cocaine will first start with a brief cocaine detox program in Los Angeles before advancing to a drug rehab program to address the mental aspects of addiction. The damage from cocaine will only get worse as more time goes on and more of the drug is used. Don’t wait – call us today at 855-458-0050 to overcome cocaine addiction and avoid the health problems of this addictive substance.

External Sources

• Healthline – What Is a Perforated Septum?
• Cleveland Clinic – Saddle Nose
• RealSelf – Why Does Nasal Septal Cartilage Regrow After Septoplasty or Rhinoplasty and the Tip Cartilages Do Not?

Learn about the dangers of snorting cocaine and the nosebleeds that follow. #snortingcocaine #gethelpgetbetterhttps://t.co/ef7zwwga8c

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) September 13, 2022

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial