History+of+Cocaine

Known as the oldest, most potent stimulants of natural origin, cocaine was originated from the coca bush, most commonly found in the Andes Mountains of South Africa. The coca leaves were used in religious ceremonies by the ancient Incans in 3000 BC. It would speed their breathing and make their heart race to combat the damaging effects of living in high altitudes in thin mountain air. It would be injected by chewing or made into a tea. Also, the Native Peruvians chew ed the coca leaves during religious ceremonies. In 1532, the Spanish soldiers invaded Peru and the ceremonies no longer occurred.

In the mid 18th century, cocaine was isolated and purified by German Chemist Albert Niemann. Around the late 1800’s it was more frequently used by medical community, mostly as an anesthetic in certain surgeries. Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, revealed cocaine being a cure for depression and sexual impotence. Once he published an article to promote the benefits of cocaine, the “magical” substance, he began to prescribe it to close friends. Without further research on the proper lethal dosage, a patient of Freud died from a high dosage. In 1886, John Pemberton added coca leaves to the ingredients of his new soft drink, Coca-cola. It had an energizing effect which made Coca-cola tremendously popular. In the early 1900’s, people started realizing the negative effects which then had it labelled as a drug. Consequently, Coca-cola had to remove the coca leave from their soft drink in 1903.

Within a few years, cocaine became popular to snort. Hospitals and medical literatures had increased reports of nasal damage. By 1912, throughout the United States there was 5000 reported cocaine-related deaths. By 1922, the drug was then banned. In the 70’s, cocaine became the popular drug used by entertainers and business people. By 1980, university students experimenting with cocaine increased percentage ten times since 1970. Usually known as the “rich man’s” drug due to the great expense of this particular drug, cocaine had a new reputation as America’s most dangerous and addictive drug, causing more crime, poverty and death than any other substance on record. [1] [2]

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