My £625k coke habit cost me my family & kids – shock pic of me putting a toothbrush through my nose will make you squirm

STICKING a torch up his nose, Lee Firth was shocked by what he saw… the beam of light shining through a giant hole in his septum. Flying into a panic, he feared his septum was about to fall out but admits, even that wasn’t enough to stop him after 20 years of abusing cocaine. Now, as he shares graphic photos of the damage to his nose, the 40-year-old reveals how one call saved his life. Lee Firth battled a cocaine addiction for 20 years, which cost him his marriage, job and mental state Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media His 7g a day habit destroyed his nose, leaving a hole in his septum that a toothbrush can fit through Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Lee was 21 when he was first introduced to the drug that would go on to ruin his marriage, his career and see him lose his kids. Admitting he “took a liking to it” straight away, initially Lee enjoyed the drug in social settings. But, after the death of his mum and two of his children, the construction worker says grief led him to “bury his head in the sand” – and his use escalated. At the height of his addiction, he became so paranoid that he would barricade himself in hotel rooms fearing people would attack him. Despite noticing a hole in his septum in 2022 and fearing his nose would fall off, the dad-of-four continued using – leaving a gap so wide he could fit a toothbrush handle through it. He estimates he spent £625,000 on the drug in total, watching the “lovely empire I built fall apart bit by bit”. But the dad is now seven months clean and his “loving and caring” wife of 11 years, Chelsee Firth, 34, has given him “a second chance” – after leaving him at the height of his addiction. Lee, from Bridgwater, Somerset, said: “I was using it for 20 years, but the last five years got really bad, I was using 4-7g a day. “I shone a torch up my nose and saw the light come through from the other side of my septum. Pictured here in active addiction, Lee estimates he spent £625,000 on cocaine over the years Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Lee’s wife Chelsee, pictured here, left him during his addiction, but gave him a second chance after he got clean Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media “That’s when I realised, ‘I’ve got a hole in my nose’, I was worrying like hell. “I was thinking my nose was going to fall off, I was panicking but I still carried on using it. “I lost my business, lost my wife, lost my kids, I lost everything because of my drug issues. It was my own fault.” Initially, Lee started using the drug socially with friends in 2006, typically using around 1g a week. But after his mum died in 2007, his social habit spiralled into an addiction. Lee said: “I got into it through friends using it, I took a liking to it straight away. “I went through quite a lot of stuff in the last 20 years.” He and his wife, who he met 15 years ago, had a total of six children together. He says: “I was hiding it from them [his family], never did it at home. “If I was on a bender, I would leave home for four to five days.” But it became a “day and night” addiction when the couple lost two of their children. Oakley was stillborn in 2019 and a year later, the couple’s daughter, Princess, died of Covid-19. Lee said: “I started using every day and buried my head in the sand. “I started getting pains and nose bleeds. “It started from my temples to the back of my eyes, my nose, all around my teeth; earache, all of my sinuses. “My whole face was in constant pain.” Lee says his addiction was partly driven by the death of his mother and two of his children Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Lee has spoken to doctors about getting his nose fixed, but says there’s a long waiting list and he has to be clean for at least 12 months Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media In 2023, Lee lost the company he had set up six years prior, because he was “spending money he didn’t have” and was “never turning up” to the site. At this point, he “looked like the living dead” and was spending around £1,500 a week on cocaine. His wife separated from him in 2024, staying at home with the kids – Oscar, 12, Oliver, 9, Evie-Marie, 5, Oaklee, 4 – as Lee would couch-surf, sleep on the streets or in vans. Lee says: “She left me because she couldn’t have the kids seeing their dad in that mess. “I never did it in front of them but I was horrible to be around. I would go home from work and my wife knew. “I was putting cocaine before food, that is all I cared about. From the minute I woke up to the moment I went to bed.” Lee unsuccessfully tried rehab three years ago, but it “didn’t work” for him. He spent £10,000 on a one-month stay, and relapsed two weeks after. But Lee went ‘cold turkey’ in January 2026 after a moment with his son. “When I rang my son and he said ‘Daddy, why don’t you love us anymore?’ It broke my heart,” says Lee. “That was the turning point for me. “My children gave me the strength to get clean. “[This time] I locked myself away for two weeks in my own room, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. “I had sweats, vivid dreams. “I had to change my circle of friends. I dropped them a message and said, ‘Our friendship is done’. “I changed my phone number and focused on my wife and kids every day.” Lee suffered from severe facial pain and now has extreme snoring and whistling sounds through his nose. A septal button procedure, where the septum is replaced with a soft silicone or plastic device, is an option. But Lee said there’s an NHS waiting list. Lee says: “I went to the hospital and they did various tests. They said that I could get [septal] button surgery but it was on an NHS waiting list and I had to be clean for at least 12 months. “There is nothing I can do about it. I have looked into surgery in Istanbul but I need a full nose reconstruction and I don’t want to go through that. NHS advice on cocaine addiction You do not have to be taking cocaine every day to be addicted to it, the NHS says. A sign of addiction is that you’ve tried to cut down or stop but are unable to. If cocaine is damaging your relationships, work, money situation or health, you can get help from the NHS. Treatment options: Where to start You can go to see a GP, who can refer you for treatment Or, if you prefer, you can refer yourself directly to your local drug treatment service At your first appointment you’ll be asked lots of questions about your health and drug use. This is so a tailored treatment plan can be put together for you You’ll be given a key worker who will support you throughout your treatment plan Unlike treatment for heroin, there are no medicines that work as substitutes for powder cocaine, crack cocaine and other stimulants. However, you may be offered medicines to help with related symptoms, such as sleep problems. These are often used on a short-term basis because long-term use of medicines that can help you sleep can also be addictive in itself. Some people find mutual support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous, useful. They use the proven 12-step recovery programme. Source: NHS Lee is now sharing his story online to try and help others going through addiction Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media “It causes horrendous snoring and my nose gets blocked up really easily. “I get whistling sounds through my nose when I’m speaking – and I don’t even realise. “The pain I was going through at the time was absolutely awful, I had never experienced pain like that.” He’s now sharing his ordeal online to help others struggling with addiction. After two years apart, Lee and his wife have reunited. Lee says: “The first couple of months are the hardest, once you admit you have a problem you are on your way to recovery. “If you’ve got anyone around you need to let them know. There are people that the first thing they do in the morning is message me. “I am getting hundreds of messages from people saying they don’t know who to speak to and I’m giving them as much information as I can. “There’s definitely a lot more awareness that needs to be out there about this. How many people are suffering in silence? It’s unbelievable.” GETTING HELP If you think that you have a drug addiction then please contact your GP. You can also visit FRANK for honest information about drugs and to find local treatment services. If you are having trouble finding the right help, call the FRANK drugs helpline on 03001236600 Or click here to visit the NHS website for more advice and support