A party girl had a chunk of her nose 'fall out' after becoming addicted to ketamine – but still used the drug every day for another two years.
Nicole Chanelle said she has been using party drugs like cocaine for 15 years, trying it for the first time when she was only 14.
The 30-year-old would use cocaine on nights out but was originally put off ketamine after having a bad experience when she was spiked at a rave.
However, when Nicole tried the 'cheap' drug again three years ago, she gradually started increasing the amount she was taking until she was using it every day.
The TikToker said she used up to four grams a day – but her massive appetite only cost her £140 a month as she bought it cheaper in bulk.
After using the drug for a year, Nicole noticed her nose appeared blocked.
However, she was horrified when a chunk of her nose fell out, leaving a hole inside – but the incident did not stop her using for another two years.
A horrifying photo shows doctors exposing the large hole that had developed inside her nose before fixing it.
After a friend sent Nicole a link to a rehab centre in India, she flew out there in May as she said she did not trust herself to get clean in the UK.
Nicole is now three months sober and had surgery on her nose in Turkey to fix the exterior and the hole.
Nicole, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said: “My nose felt really blocked and then a large chunk of my nose came out. I knew I probably had a hole and I looked up and it was there.
“Luckily the hole isn't too large. I speak to people on a daily basis that have no inside of their nose.
“I ignored it, carried on using as it didn't change the outside of my nose. A year in I could see physical changes on my nose from the outside because I carried on using it.”
She had been using cocaine for the past 15 years, but moved onto using ketamine too three years ago.
Nicole added: “Once I began using ketamine it quickly progressed.
“I just started using every single day, I used it as a coping mechanism. It's highly addictive, I used it for any excuse, any emotion.
“The first year I didn't realise how bad it was and in the second year I knew I was addicted but I was too far gone to get a grip on it.
“When I first started I was mixing it with the coke and just enjoying it when I was out and then it went to the point I was using it home alone.
“It's cheaper if you buy large amounts so I'd spend £140 and it would last me for a month. It's so cheap.”
Soon she realised she had a problem and needed to do something about it.
Nicole said: “I was speaking to a friend of mine who had a ket problem and she had been to this rehab centre the year before.
“She just sent me the link and it was in the back of my mind but then I was using heavily alone.
“I had a funny turn and literally thought I was going to die. I thought I can't be trusted alone in my home anymore. I need to get away.
“I ended up going to rehab because I couldn't seem to pull away from it. I booked the flight on the Monday, I was out of the country on the Wednesday.
“I went to India because I didn't trust myself to do it in this country. I thought if I went to rehab over here, I'd probably escape because I knew the drug was so close I'd probably go and get it.
“I got [my nose] sorted, I wanted to get my nose done anyway so I fixed the hole as well.”
The content creator admitted she was lucky to escape serious bladder problems that often occur with ketamine use, but would suffer from 'ket cramps' in her stomach.
Nicole said the drug caused her to be depressed and to isolate herself from friends and family.
The ex-addict aims to raise awareness and encourage others who are struggling to reach out for help.
Nicole said: “I'm lucky that I escaped serious bladder problems but when I was using a lot I would go to the toilet a lot, suffer from ket cramps in my stomach.
“It made me deeply depressed. I was isolating, didn't care about doing anything else other than using.
“Sober life is a lot easier now since I had the nose surgery so I know if I go back to using now, I'd just destroy everything I've done.
“I don't want to go back there, I do have thoughts of using but don't actually do it.
“Reach out for help, try not to keep it to yourself and suffer in silence. Be held accountable.
“I was lucky, my family knew without me telling them because I was isolating and I was really skinny. There's nothing you can do until you're ready for the help.”
