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Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctors in Lanarkshire, Scotland have issued a major health warning to the people of Scotland who use cocaine on the damage it can cause to the nose when snorted.

ENT doctors, specialising in noses at University Hospital Monklands (UHM) have seen a rise in the number of patients who have suffered irreparable damage to the nasal septum after continued snorting of cocaine.

Fraser, is someone who knows what it is like to have suffered damage to his nose after snorting cocaine.  Fraser was initially only using cocaine as a recreational substance, but personal circumstances changed his life, and he began snorting cocaine regularly. Gradually as his nose started to collapse, Fraser stopped going out and socially isolated himself.

When the Covid pandemic hit, the compulsory wearing of face masks were a blessing for Fraser’s mental health, as he could face the outside world without people noticing the damage to his nose. But, Fraser sought help. He stopped using cocaine and was referred by his GP to the local ENT department for support with his deteriorating nose but was advised of the possibility that his nose would have to be removed.

Resigned to having a prosthetic nose, Fraser was then referred to Mr Natarajan Balaji, an ENT consultant at UHM and the current President of the British Society of Facial Plastic Surgery (BSFPS).  Initially Mr Balaji was of the same opinion as other doctors and that the best option was to remove the nose. However, after further multiple consultations, an informed choice was made to undertake a reconstructive surgery. Mr Balaji performed the reconstructive surgery on Fraser at the end of last year to rebuild his nose. Fraser is delighted with the outcome of the surgery, although fully aware that he may need some more minor surgery in the future.

Fraser said:  “I cannot thank the ENT team at Monklands enough.  Having been told I would lose my nose and to then be told they would be able to rebuild it was incredible.  However, I am one of the lucky ones as I started taking cocaine for fun and it was a part of my life for a long time.  I am not ashamed of that but I do want other people to think of the damage that snorting cocaine can do to not just their nose but their body.

“The nose is one of the most visible parts of the body and losing that would change your life forever”.

“I am extremely lucky and have changed my life but my story could have been very different and I could be going to bed at night removing my prosthetic nose.”

Mr Balaji said that the number of patients with nose problems due to cocaine use has increased enormously and want people to be aware of the damage snorting cocaine can do.

He said:  “Cocaine is cut with other ingredients including Levamisole, which is used in de-worming tablets for dogs and cats, and Phenacetin, an analgesic and fever-reducing drug used in veterinary medicine.  Cocaine also has certain types of acids mixed with the ingredients.  When snorted, cocaine causes the blood vessels to contract very strongly, and the nasal septum is very sensitive to reduced blood flow. After using cocaine a few times, the nasal structure can begin to die, causing perforations.”

Mr. Nicholas Calder, Ear, Nose and Throat consultant, also specialising in nasal reconstructive surgery, emphasised that the consequences of cocaine use should not be underestimated. He said:  “The number of patients we are treating is increasing year on year and patients come to us from a cross section of the population.”

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