The use of crack cocaine, a heat-stable and smokeable form of cocaine, is a health problem in several countries, especially among young individuals. The abuse of crack cocaine has been associated with simultaneous use of other drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. The regular smoking of tobacco and use of alcohol have been associated with several oral lesions, including oral cancer. However, little is known about the effect of crack cocaine smoking on normal oral mucosa. A study by Woyceichoski, et al assessed the effect of smoking crack cocaine on oral squamous epithelial cells. The study found that crack cocaine was able to induce significant changes on oral epithelial cells, specifically, a decrease in the nuclear area (NA) of oral squamous epithelial cells, and consequently a decrease in the NA/CA (cytoplasmic area) ratio. The authors note that since crack cocaine is normally used in association with other risk factors for oral cancer (tobacco and alcohol), abusers of this illicit drug should have frequent preventive oral examinations. Crack cocaine smokers are known to have a high prevalence of oral and lip lesions, including burns, blisters, and sores, which may facilitate the transmission of blood-borne infections. Therefore, it is important for dental professionals to be familiar with the potential oral effects of this form of cocaine.
(Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, June 2008, Volume 105, Number 6)
