FDA Approves a Cocaine Nasal Spray
With a title like that, it is easy to think: why on earth would the FDA approve something with such an abusive substance?
How to use nasal spray. (n.d.). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/general-use/how-to-use-nasal-spray
The article I found was called, Did The FDA Approve a Cocaine Nasal Spray? ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cocaine-nasal-spray-fda/ ). A question that instantly popped into my mind was how unbelievable it sounded that the FDA would approve for something like that. It is crazy to me that we can approve things with cocaine, a schedule II drug, that has such a high abusive and addictive rate. So as I start reading the article, I already have in my head that it should be false information. However, I was wrong, and the article rating claimed it to be true.
Basically, Lannett Company, Inc., which is the pharmaceutical company who brought this to the market, stated in a press release that, "of the mucous membranes for diagnostic procedures and surgeries on or through the nasal cavities of adults."("Did the FDA Approve a Cocaine Nasal Spray?"). This makes much more sense to me, but I still do not understand why this would need to use cocaine. So I dug deeper, and found a statement by an FDA spokesperson, " However, when used according to the directions provided in the labeling, physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms are unlikely to develop because this drug is for single use during diagnostic procedures and surgeries."("Did the FDA Approve a Cocaine Nasal Spray?"). To better understand this, it's like going to the doctors office and getting a shot, the doctor is always in possession of the substance and the patient does not have access to it like a prescription for example.
To relate this to women, I researched more with an article called Substance Use in Women ( https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-use-in-women ). Even though FDA claims no one will become addicted to it, I think it is important to relate this back to women's mental health. Women are more likely to turn to surgery to fix the things they are insecure about on themselves. I can see a potential for women to continually want to get more and more surgeries, thinking they will be able to fix themselves physically and mentally, and they quickly become addicted to the surgeries AKA the cocaine in the nasal spray. It is known to science that, "women often use substances differently than men, such as using smaller amounts of certain drugs for less time before they become addicted"(National Institute on Drug Abuse). This makes me question if the women will become addicted to the cocaine nasal spray since they can use less and become addicted much faster.
Image 1: Josef Hadeed, MD, FACS. "Importance of Patient Safety in Plastic Surgery." American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 22 June 2016, www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/importance-of-patient-safety-in-plastic-surgery.
Image 2: Castillo, Stephanie. "For Men And Women, Drug Withdrawal Is A Different Beast." Medical Daily, www.medicaldaily.com/substance-abuse-affects-mens-and-womens-brains-differently-may-fuel-gender-specific-342860.
References
MacGuill, Dan, and Dan MacGuill. “Did the FDA Approve a Cocaine Nasal Spray?” Snopes.com, www.snopes.com/fact-check/cocaine-nasal-spray-fda/.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Substance Use in Women." National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) |, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-use-in-women.
Madeline this is such an interesting article. I feel like I have more questions that information about this vary topic. With the amount of research out there on drugs and highly addictive drugs I feel like this is just another push for the prescription market. A question I have for this new approved drug is what other research is published to verify the claims to the new prescription drug not being addictive? How does this affect someone's mental health? Such astonishing publications in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThat was very interesting to read. I think you did a great job diving deeper even after the article. This is very interesting topic. I also didn't think about how women may be more addicted since they are more likely to get surgeries.
ReplyDeleteThat was a funny and learn something new kind of read! Thanks for the information. I agree when reading the title, you would jerk your head to the side wondering exactly "is that what you just read". Very informative in the information provided though, I never knew there was a nose spray like that, fortunately, it is a one time use, since cocaine is a schedule I drug.
ReplyDeleteHello Madeline,
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw the title I was shocked a cocaine nasal spray. I felt the exact same way I said " this has got to be fake but it turns out it wasn't. Although it is a one time use thing like you said similar to getting a shot at the doctors it's still crazy to use something so dangerous. Thanks for this information it really opens your eyes to new things.
Greetings Madeline,
ReplyDeleteWhen I initially read the title I was shocked. I find it interesting that the FDA would a approve something that has such a substance in it. But it makes so much sense, with a lot of cosmetic surgeries that women get, I would assume that the nasal spray would immediately help with pain. But for women to get addicted to the spray is unfortunate. Thanks for sharing. I learned something new tonight.