Cocaine snorters cutting noses on new banknotes

Cocaine snorters cutting noses on new banknotes
"Everyone thought the new fivers were God's gift to sniffing." (Getty)

Cocaine sniffers in the UK face a new nosebleed problem - they're cutting their nostrils on new banknotes.

The old paper notes have been replaced by thicker and stiffer plastic ones - featuring the image of Winston Churchill - but this has had negative side-effects.

"I thought I was the only person to have had my nose cut by the new fiver," one Birmingham blow user told The Metro.

"But when I told my friend how I was in agony he said I had been 'Winstoned', and it was happening to everyone."

The notes' illicit usage has led to public health warnings.

"If you are sharing straws or notes the blood from the previous person can be absorbed through the nose lining along with the drug," the West Berkshire Young People's Drug and Alcohol Service said on their website.

"If this blood is infected with Hep C or HIV there is a risk of spreading the infection. The risk increases with greater damage on the inside of the nose and the more you use."

The change has led to fans of the Bolivian Marching Powder complaining - loudly and excitedly - about the update to their favourite line-snorting apparatus.

"Everyone thought the new fivers were God's gift to sniffing at the start because they roll up perfectly and if you are sharing the note it is not too bad if someone walks off with it," the Birmingham man continued.

"Now I suppose now people are realising if something seems too good to be true then it usually is."

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