cocaine bugs

n.pl. a skin itch or the sensation that bugs are under one’s skin, caused by the hallucinatory effects of cocaine and its derivatives; formication. Subjects: English, Drugs, Slang

Editorial Note: Scotoma, mentioned in the first cite, is defined by WordNet as “an isolated area of diminished vision within the visual field.” The plural is scotomata.

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Citations: [1895 M.V. Ball Medical and Surgical Reporter (Nov. 16) “Acute Cocaine-Poisoning” p. 601: Hallucinations are rarely present. One, the so-called cocaine-bug, and which occurred in my patient, is believed by Erlenmeyer to be due to disseminated scotoma. Spots of dirt are seen on white surfaces, as noted in this patient, the fingers seemed black and dirty.] 1902 Atlanta Constitution (Ga.) (Nov. 29) “Opium, Cocaine and Whiskey Habits and Their Baleful Effects” p. E4: There are many strange things connected with the drug habit and the “cocaine bug” is one of the most singular. The victim imagines there is a bug crawling about just under his skin. 1977 Gordon Chaplin Washington Post Magazine (June 5) “Cocaine in Washington” p. 18: Coke can in extreme cases dissolve the septum that divides your nostrils and bring on paranoid psychoses ad sensory hallucinations known as “coke bugs.” 1980 Charles Perry Chicago Tribune (June 14) “Free base: The new fad drug that can really blow your mind” p. S11: Heavy cocaine users report a sense that things are crawling on or under their skin, the so-called “cocaine bugs” phenomenon. “But these are pseudo-hallucinations….The patients always say it’s as if there were bugs under their skin. They don’t act on a belief that there actually are.” 1986 Kevin Flynn Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.) (Apr. 6) “Crack: Most Potent, Most Popular And Most Addictive Drug of All” p. 4: User may hallucinate that he feels little insects (“cocaine bugs”) crawling under his skin. 2005 Jonathan Duffy BBC News (U.K.) (Oct. 10) “The cocaine paradox”: The drawbacks of snorting coke include…an itch, known as “cocaine bugs.”

Posted 17 Oct 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

The Bugs are REAL, I say a nematode, both microscopic, and quite adept at not being observed. The Coke speeds the brains ability to observe the little fellows, and makes them crazier than the doctors will tell you that you are. You are merely being given a sign by biological buddies that you shoud stop shooting up.

by Dr. Toxic 17 May 06, 0305 GMT

PS. That is a Filarial Nematode, possibly several types involved and they travel in your blood and blood rich organs, hence some of the effects on heart, lungs, brain. There are over 20,000 types of Nematodes and several Million w/in most of us. The Government knows but likes when druggies have heart attacks, it plays into their Nazi ways. Look for their classic face patterns of disguise. We are all made in their image!

by Dr. Toxic 17 May 06, 0318 GMT

I know you’re joking, but just for anyone who doesn’t: cocaine bugs ARE NOT caused by nematodes or any other type of real insect, worm, or parasite. They’re strictly psychological or neurological.

by Grant Barrett 19 May 06, 1030 GMT

just kidding…. im not so sure…
i have a friend that experimented with IV cocaine use and during this time i was a witness to the ‘coke bugs’. we conducted several experiments all concluding that there was some parasidic life form running wild during the cocaine “poisoning” of the body.
^Test #1: we hung a linen sheet 3 feet from the wall paralell. with no shirt on he shot up standing inbetween the wall and sheet and waited for the ‘bugs’ to swarm. 30 - 45 seconds after the initial swarming he quickly came out from behind the sheet and stood on the other side standing about 2 - 3 feet from sheet. I witnessed the sheet like magic move towards his body. points in the sheet would advance towards him and then fall away…
other tests were conducted and i would be glad to share them.
explain these observations made by myself and other non-drug induced bystanders…

by wonder bug 23 Jul 06, 0421 GMT

I believe there is definetly a cocain bug or worm. I have collected specimens at different stages of molting? as well as watched them spin webbing around themselves. They look like hair or thread and I have also watched them enter my body through my pores. Black ones and white ones. I have also seen the fuzz balls of some type of mite or midge, most interesting is the one that I haven’t seen a lot of but it looks like a round red small piece of lint. Anyhow, I think the cocaine users get a predjudiced none investigative rap on this one. I too have witnessed this worm like creature reach for cocaine and eat my cocaine rock so that the hard rock becomes quite crumbly even to the point of being like dust. It is my second time com bating with these creatures and I also believe there is more than one type that does seem to only show up with cocaine use. I have to wonder if that is how they came to this country/. There is more than one insect that’s primary diet and home is with the cocoa plant including worms and moths. I am wondering about mites and midges? I enjoy my rock once in a while but it is expensive enough without the bugs eating through it. Any suggestions besides “don’t smoke cocaine”?
By Expensive Bug

by Faye 03 Sep 06, 0512 GMT

Ha ha. Funny. Stop it. There are no cocaine bugs.

by Grant Barrett 03 Sep 06, 1054 GMT

Don’t smoke cocaine. In fact, don’t ingest it at all. That shit will kill you. Smoke some KBs buddy.

by MattBob SquarePants 09 Sep 06, 0120 GMT

i want 2 know more about wonder bug’s tests. i think that “coke bugs” are real because of sober by standers aswell.

by concerned 13 Oct 06, 1018 GMT

I"am also a non-drug user. This is now my second time dealing with these insects, in my home. I told my doctor about it and he says do you use cocaine, and said you have coke bugs. I oferd to take any drug test at any time, he said no thanks , and that was it. Three years later after buying knew furniture for my child and myself, we had moved, everything was fine, then a couple from Ustralia moved in up-stairs, and it started again. So now what do I do?, go back to the dr. I DON"T THINK SO. PLEASE HELP ME.

by angel 16 Oct 06, 0526 GMT

Hi I just wrote comment, but I wasn"t thinking I would like to put my other name in, it is angel. PLEASE REMOVE the s.jacobson, so my child and or family members do not see. Please and thank-you.You have my e-mail address. I"m not sure how to delete it. Please help me, thanks again, now sressed out!!!!!!!!

by angel 16 Oct 06, 0539 GMT

That’s the punishment you get for leaving goofy comments, but I’ve gone ahead and changed the name anyway.

by Grant Barrett 16 Oct 06, 0552 GMT

I just wish, I could get my hands on some the obviously really good drugs Dr Toxic and Faye is on.

by Dr. Smurf 19 Oct 06, 1011 GMT

I know for a fact that the bugs are real. I am now clean from coke now for about a month and I still feel their presence. During my last few weeks of smoking coke, was forced to somke alone because other crack somkers would see and feel the bugs swarming. Others around me would begin to itch and wave their hands in front of their faces as if their were flies bothering them. It got to the point where people would give me crack just to see this affect. I felt as if there were spider webs all over my body. I told doctors but they accused me of immagining it all. I dont know what to do. Please help

by Mike 09 Nov 06, 0749 GMT

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