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history of
cocaine
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Cocaine in its various
forms is derived from the coca plant which is native to the high mountain
ranges of South America. The coca leaves were used by natives of this region
and acted upon the user as a stimulant. The stimulating effects of the drug
increase breathing which increases oxygen intake. This afforded native laborers
of the region the stamina to perform their duties in the thin air at high
altitudes. In time science figured out how to maximize the strength and effect
of the drug contained in the coca leaves. Through chemically synthesizing the
coca leaves the white crystal powder we have come to know as cocaine was
created. As time passed newer methods to magnify the euphoric effects of the
drug were invented which has led us to the most potent and addictive form of
the drug, crack.
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Crack cocaine is the most
popularly used version of cocaine today. Smoking cocaine rocks began in the
late 1970's. Rocking-up cocaine powder and smoking it was originally the method
developed so distributors of cocaine could test the purity of the drug before
it was purchased from the manufacturers. Crack has destroyed millions of lives
since it was first introduced to the streets of America. Crack is a relatively
new drug on the scene compared to drugs like opium or heroin; nonetheless, it
has been part of our history and culture for nearly 150 years.
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Cocaine's
Role in American History
Cocaine was
first synthesized in 1855. It was not until 1880, however, that its effects
were recognized by the medical world. |
cocaine
toothache drops advertisement, 1885
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The first recognized authority and advocate for this drug was
world famous psychologist, Sigmund Freud. Early in his career, Freud broadly
promoted cocaine as a safe and useful tonic that could cure depression and
sexual impotence. Cocaine got a further boost in acceptability when in 1886
John Pemberton included cocaine as the main ingredient in his new soft drink,
Coca-Cola. It was cocaine's euphoric and energizing effects on the consumer
that was mostly responsible for skyrocketing Coca-Cola into its place as the
most popular soft drink in history.
From the 1850's
to the early 1900's, cocaine and opium laced elixirs, tonics and wines were
broadly used by people of all social classes. This is a fact that is for the
most part hidden in American history. The truth is that at this time there was
a large drug culture affecting a broad sector of American society. Other famous
people that promoted the "miraculous" effects of cocaine elixirs were Thomas
Edison and actress Sarah Bernhart. Because there were no restrictions placed on
acquiring these drugs in the early 1900's, narcotics were an acceptable way of
life for a large number of people, many of whom were people of stature. Cocaine
was a main stay in the silent film industry. The pro-drug messages coming out
of Hollywood at this time were receiving international attention which
influenced the attitudes of millions of people about cocaine.
As a rule, famous people are role models that can and do
influence the masses. Star power has proven time and again to be the most
potent form of advertising. Think about it: The worlds most famous
psychologist; the man that invented the light bulb; a stable of Hollywood
silent film stars; and the inventor or the most popular soft drink in history -
all on the pro-cocaine band wagon. All promoting the drug's positive effects.
Some did it through personal testimonials that ran in printed pages across the
nation. Others (in particular the silent film stars) promoted cocaine's
acceptability through the examples they set by their well publicized life
styles.
In the same way as other narcotics like opium and heroin
during this time, cocaine also began to be used as an active ingredient in a
variety of "cure all" tonics and beverages. In many of the tonics that drug
companies were producing at this time, cocaine would be mixed with opiates and
administered freely to old and young alike. It wasn't until some years later
that the dangers of these drugs became apparent.
In fact, it was
the negative side effects of habitual cocaine use that was responsible for
coining the phrase, "dope fiend". This terminology came about because of the
behavior of a person abusing cocaine for prolonged periods of time. Because
cocaine is such a powerful stimulant, prolonged daily use of the drug creates
severe sleep deprivation and loss of appetite. A person might go days or
sometimes weeks without sleeping or eating properly. The user often experiences
psychotic behavior. They hallucinate and become delusionary. Coming down from
the drug causes a severe state of depression for the person in withdrawal. This
person can then become so desperate for more of the drug that they will do just
about anything to get more of it, including murder. If the drug is not readily
available, the depression one experiences in withdrawal can become so great the
user will sometimes become suicidal. It is because of this heinous effect on
the user that the word "fiend" became associated with cocaine addiction.
Over the course of the next several years the American
majority became more and more aware of the dangers of cocaine. As the severity
of this problem became more and more apparent, concern mounted to an eventual
public outcry to ban the social use of cocaine. This public pressure forced
Pemberton to remove cocaine from Coca Cola in 1903. Eventually the public
pressure became so great as to place a national prohibition on cocaine. The
country's legislators took notice, and in 1920 cocaine was added to the list of
narcotics to be outlawed by the passing of The Dangerous Drug Act of 1920.
Unfortunately, as with the opiates like heroin, the dangers of cocaine abuse
were recognized by law makers after the fact. The market for cocaine had
already been established and was deeply entrenched into American history and
culture and is with us today.
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