People can ingest chemical substances in a variety of ways. Some ingest certain substances orally, taking them in the form of a pill or a capsule. Other people might ingest drugs nasally, inhaling a powdered drug like cocaine or a crushed-up medication. Some people smoke drugs out of glass pipes or in the form of a joint. Still, others inject drugs directly into their veins, a method known as intravenous use.
When a person uses a drug in any form they are likely to experience a range of related side effects. For example, some people believe that using a drug orally or nasally does less damage than intravenously. The truth is, any method of use can result in a range of serious and potentially permanent side effects.
More About What Damage Can Drug Abuse Do To the Nose?
People who use drugs nasally often experience serious nose damage. Drugs that are most commonly snorted include powdered cocaine, crushed-up medications, methamphetamine, and heroin. Some examples of over-the-counter medications that can be snorted include pseudoephedrine, more commonly known as Sudafed. When a person adjusts a drug through their nose, blood vessels constrict and blood flow to the nose is harshly limited. This can result in a damaged septum – the tissue that separates the two nostrils.
Nasal bridge damage is also commonly reported. Because drug addiction is a progressive condition, it is important that anybody who has been abusing drugs seeks professional help you know rather than later. If you are someone you know has been ingesting drugs nasally, seeking help before permanent nose damage occurs is extremely important. At Agape Treatment Center we treat drug addiction of all types and severities, providing our clients with the skills and tools they need to maintain sobriety for years to come.
Symptoms of Drug-Related Nose Damage
Symptoms associated with drug-related nose damage include:
- Chronic nose bleeds
- Persistent nasal pain
- Chronic sinus infections
- A complete loss of smell or sense of taste
- Making uncontrollable whistling noises when breathing
- Damaged tissue in the nose
- A collapsed nasal bridge
- A perforated septum
- Nasal infections that can lead to permanent deformities of the nose
Over time, a person who chronically abuses a drug like cocaine, prescription pills, methamphetamine, or heroin loses control of their use. Despite a range of serious consequences they continue to use their drug of choice compulsively. Because of this, many people who experience severe nose damage continue to use drugs regardless. This can easily lead to permanent damage that might not even be remedied with invasive surgical procedures. If you or someone you love has been using a drug of any type through any method of ingestion, we are available to help.
What Can Be Done?
If a person does experience damage from drug use, can anything be done to rectify the issue? Many types of damages to the nose can be repaired, though an invasive surgical procedure like rhinoplasty might be necessary depending on the severity of the damages. Unfortunately, it is very common for men and women who abuse drugs like cocaine for a number of years to experience permanent nose disfiguration.
Of course, the most important part of the recovery process is ensuring that the person in question stops using their drug of choice. Unfortunately, this step is seldom taken without professional help. At Agape Treatment Center we have extensive experience working with men and women who abuse drugs nasally, and we are more than happy to put them in touch with medical professionals who can take care of any nose damage that was accrued over the course of their addiction.
Find Help For Drug Addiction at Agape Treatment Center
At Agape Treatment Center we provide each of our clients with a highly individualized and comprehensive program of addiction recovery. We believe that with the right resources in place, even the most severe cases of drug addiction can be successfully overcome. If you or someone you love has experienced any degree of nose damage as a result of nasal drug use, we are available to help get you started on the road to recovery.
To learn more about our program or to begin with our simple admissions process, simply pick up the phone and give us a call or contact us directly through our website. We look forward to speaking with you soon and helping in any way that we can.
Stephanie Catalano is an accomplished Clinical Director at Agape Behavioral Healthcare. With a Master of Social Work degree, LCSW license, and extensive training in Rapid Resolution Therapy under her belt, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her unique combination of education and experience allows her to provide exceptional care to clients and lead her team with confidence. Stephanie’s joy comes from witnessing the moments when her patients creatively connect the dots and bravely move toward reclaiming their power. Her purpose is to help individuals understand their past so they can create a future full of hope, growth, and success. Stephanie attributes a large portion of her success to the supportive culture and strong sense of community fostered by the Agape team.
