When cocaine destroys more than the nasal septum: From the palate to the skull base

Spanish doctors have presented cases showing that very heavy cocaine use can destroy tissue well beyond the nasal septum, damaging the palate, eye socket and even the skull base. These rare but severe complications can impair basic functions and, in the most extreme cases, threaten life.

Cocaine constricts blood vessels, depriving tissue of oxygen and nutrients; damage may go untreated until perforations have formed. One man developed a cerebrospinal fluid leak after destruction reached the bones between his nose and brain, while another patient lost vision and needed surgery to remove an eye. Spain’s health survey estimated that 793,000 people aged 15 to 64 used cocaine in the previous year, though the most severe cases are generally linked to near-daily use.