Evaluation of taste function in crack cocaine users

Method: Sixty males (21-45 years-old) were divided into two groups (30 crack cocaine users and 30 nonusers). Taste function was assessed by the technique of taste strips with the four basic tastes. 

Result: Subjects of case group had difficulty recognizing salty flavor, followed by sweet and bitter. In relation to the sour taste, the groups had similar responses (p = 0.000). Fifteen days after hospitalization, crack cocaine users have improved the perception of taste especially for the flavors: sweet and salty. For the sour and bitter, there was a slight worsening in the taste perception. The Wilcoxon’s test showed that there was recovery in taste perception of crack users over time (p=0.034). In addition, 20 (66.6%) crack users had hypogeusia in relation to the control group. 

Conclusion: According to these results, it can be concluded that the chronic use of crack was able to change the taste perception leading to a high prevalence of hypogeusia in these individuals and, that this effect is partially recovered 15 days later.