This 28-year-old Brit is addicted to nasal sprays

Latest update:October 28, 2024 01:59 PM EST

Curtis Arnold-Harmer recalled his first visit to a nose specialist, where the doctor’s initial question left him stunned. The doctor asked how often Harmer used cocaine.

Five years ago, Harmer caught a cold and bought a nasal spray.

The startling discovery was that a British man had developed an addiction to nasal sprays, and the story has since attracted significant attention online.

The incident came to light when Curtis Arnold-Harmer, a 28-year-old sound engineer and musician, shared his experience. Five years ago, Harmer caught a cold and bought a nasal spray worth Rs 600 to relieve his symptoms. Although he initially used it to treat colds, few knew that it would lead to such serious addiction.

In the last two years, Harmer has spent nearly Rs 10 lakh on nasal sprays. As his addiction grew, his nose began to feel as if it were filled with concrete blocks, a condition similar to those affected by long-term cocaine use.

During the interview, Harmer recalled his first visit to a nose specialist, where the doctor’s initial question left him stunned. The doctor asked how often Harmer used cocaine. After examining Harmer’s nose, the doctor noted that it resembled someone who had been using cocaine twice a week since he was 18 years old. Harmer explained that he had never used drugs, but was battling a persistent cold that made it difficult for him to breathe.

He also developed a fear of sleeping, as his nose often became blocked at night. In an attempt to cope, he turned to nasal sprays, eventually becoming dependent on them. He carried the spray everywhere and used it whenever he felt his breathing was difficult. Despite the medication’s label warning against use for more than seven days, Harmer found himself using the spray about 50 times a day.

In an equally bizarre incident, a boy from Motihari, Bihar barely survived after swallowing various metal objects, including a set of keys, two nail clippers and a knife. His addiction to social media and online games led him to these extreme actions. When he was taken to the doctor, sonography and ultrasound revealed several metal objects in his stomach. Despite the fact that the boy swallowed these dangerous objects, he remained unharmed.

Both cases highlight the extreme behaviors that people can develop due to addiction, be it drugs or digital platforms.