subject: History of Cocaine [print this page] History of Cocaine History of Cocaine
It's name comes from the coca plant and its alkaloid ends with the suffix "ine" together they form a very popular and ancient drug. Cocaine, a stimulant of the central nervous system has been ingested in different forms by people for over 5,000 years. The first users of this potent drug which also acts as an appetite suppressant were the indigenous natives of Bolivia in South America who chewed on the coca plant leaves. In the Andes Mountains which is primarily the natural habit of coca, other nutritional plants do not grow, thus creating a need for food. Chewing on the raw leaves also can provide a boost of energy and pain relieving qualities. To this day those same indigenous people still chew on the coca leaf which is nutrient rich in vitamins and proteins. The coca plant in its native environment is resistant to drought and disease and doesn't need any irrigation to grow. Harvesting can take place several times a year.
Mummies from ancient Peruvian times have been found with remains of coca leaves in their tombs along with pottery that has artwork depicting humans with bulging cheeks. Evidence also suggests that an anesthetic was produced with a mixture of saliva and leaves and it was also believed to be able to help health ailments such as asthma, indigestion, malaria and stomach ulcers.
In the traditional South American Indian culture a sacred goddess known as Mama Coca could bless the natives with her benevolent powers and chewing the sacred leaf promoted contact with the spirit world. Chewing or smoking provides the user an invigorating feeling. Traditionally, cocaine has been used for religious, social, mystical and medicinal purposes. Journeys have been measured by native travelers by the amount of mouthfulls it takes to chew between distances.
When the Spanish arrived on this land the claims that the leaf gave energy were ignored and declared the work of the Devil. Eventually, when these claims proved to be true the leaf was legalized and taxed. The Spanish invaders soon learned they could exploit the stimulant to enhance their endurance as well as fight hunger and fatigue. A chewing combination of tobacco and coca leaves was used as a source to induce a pleasurable feeling. The Conquistadors returned back to Europe and introduced the coca leaf which quickly became very popular.
Although the stimulating effects were known for centuries the alkaloid itself was never separated from the leaf until 1855. Many scientist before this time attempted but could not succeed because the knowledge of chemistry at this time was insufficient. The plant itself did not grow in the Eurasian region and could not survive the trip from the South American region. In 1859 a German scientist improved the purifying process and in 1898 the first synthesis of cocaine's molecular structure was achieved.
In 1885 Coca-Cola was invented and until early 1900 cocaine was an ingredient. Today the company still uses coca leaves imported from South America for flavoring but the cocaine has been removed. From 1889 until 1914 cocaine was available for purchase over-the-counter in the USA. Its uses included toothache cures and tonics as well as an ingredient in wines and chocolate.
The 1970's saw the emergence of the Columbian drug cartels that began with smuggling small amounts of marijuana but soon changed to trafficking cocaine because of the enormous profits. America's nightlife was in full swing and cocaine was the party drug of choice. The publics tolerance of cocaine abuse was widely accepted.
By the start of the 1980's the trend began to reverse and the use and abuse of this illegal drug in its powder form declined considerably. A new form of coke was being made with a mixture of cocaine and baking soda. By cooking the combination together and then letting it dry out, it would eventually harden into a rock form. "Crack cocaine " was at its height during this time period and America was in a drug panic over this inner-city epidemic.
Finally, the publics perception of the problem was changing and celebrities and politicians were leading anti-drug rallies. Employers were increasingly concerned about their employees behavior and pre-employment drug screening was becoming a requirement for many companies. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) was conducting surveys and showing that tens of millions of Americans were using drugs. Organizations against drug abuse were surfacing and creating programs drug testing in an attempt to change the habits of people with addictions.
Cocaine in modern times is a recreational drug that experienced its height in the late 1990's and early 2000's but continues to be used by every age and economic class in America. (32 words
