History: How was Cocaine, Popular and Abused in Europe, US?

Anec > Biology Knowledge

The Sun God told our ancestors that coca would turn the colonists into brutes and idiots.

Cocaine abuse: it was used for various ailments, morphine addiction

In addition to local anesthesia for minor surgeries, cocaine was used in various treatments. It was added to earache drops and eye drops to alleviate discomfort in the eyes or ears. Some cocaine ointments were applied to the skin to suppress local pain. Because it constricted blood vessels, it was included in syrups and pills to treat coughs, congestion and inflammation. Some physicians believed that cocaine could elevate patients' moods to improve depression.

Many residents except for South America became addicted to opium or opioid drugs such as heroin and morphine by the late 19th century. The American Civil War generated a large number of morphine or opium addicts because doctors would inject substantial morphine into wounded soldiers for pain relief. Cocaine's excitatory properties were opposite to morphine's sedative effects. At that time, cocaine was a rare and expensive drug, and most patients orally ingested a little each time, so its addictive nature had not yet been demonstrated. Consequently, Freud and some physicians even advocated cocaine as a remedy for opioid addiction. This led to a situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul: some people quit morphine but became addicted to cocaine; some even became addicted to both.

William Halsted had experimented on himself, his students and assistants before he popularized cocaine for nearly all minor surgeries. When he excitedly shared his findings with the world, he discovered that he was already deeply entangled and unable to extricate himself. Everyone involved in the experiments had same tragic fate. They consumed cocaine by snorting and injection. Halsted had trouble concentrating and his hands trembled. He began missing clinics, surgeries, and increasing his dosage, which almost ruined his career. Eventually, a drug rehabilitation center helped Halsted overcome cocaine addiction, but at the cost was morphine addiction. Although Halsted claimed that he had completely defeated cocaine, his friends revealed that he was never cured and still ate morphine before he died.

Cocaine abuse: food, injection.

The cocaine epidemic was spreading faster than anyone anticipated. Pharmaceutical companies received hundreds to thousands of orders within just a few months after Koller's announcement. Merck Group's annual output soared from less than 1 pound in 1883 to tens of pounds and then reached several tons in the following years. Cocaine production far exceeded medical and scientific demand. Manufacturers tried to add cocaine to products to reverse the supply-demand imbalance. They formed an impressive sales team and published a series of pamphlets and magazines to introduce its usages and benefits. Some articles in medical journals were actually paid advertisements from these companies. A variety of cocaine-containing products appeared on the market to alleviate mental and physical fatigue, including cocaine wine (which added cocaine directly instead of coca leaves), Coca-Cola or similar soft drinks, candies, cigarettes and vitality-enhancing dietary supplements. Parke-Davis even openly sold injection kits like drug dealers: cocaine powder and hypodermic syringes.

Thus, a dreadful scene emerged at the beginning of the 20th century. People could purchase cocaine without a prescription from local pharmacies; peddlers openly sold small packets on streets and parks; countless doctors and pharmacists became agents of pharmaceutical companies, and actively sold drugs to make money legally. In addition, store shelves were filled with remedies and tonics claiming to cure everything. Regulations and laws were so lax that cocaine became a legal drug that circulated and proliferated in society almost uncontrollably!

Frequently Asked Questions

How did cocaine decline and then make a comeback?

Its production reached peak during World War I. However, more and more people died of heart attacks caused by injecting or eating too much cocaine. The excitement was often accompanied by violence and crime. Countries gradually realized its toxicity and addictiveness and enacted laws to prohibit its trade and use, just as they strictly crack down on heroin and meth today. Cocaine was banned from over-the-counter drugs and food, and all medicines had to accurately list their ingredients. Streets were full of plainclothes police who approached drug dealers, attempted to purchase cocaine and then arrested them. Many doctors or pharmacists were jailed for illegally providing cocaine to customers. Department stores were sued for selling cocaine without reasonable cause. At the same time, police and customs cooperated to crack down transnational drug smuggling fiercely. Police also successfully eradicated cocaine that was once rampant in Hollywood.

After a series of large-scale arrests, cocaine became hard to find in the 1930s. Meanwhile, amphetamine gradually rose as a substitute for cocaine. It was not only legal but also provided far more excitement and pleasure. The raw materials for synthesizing it came from ephedra, a wild weed that could adapt to various environments, so amphetamine was more affordable than cocaine. People mistakenly believed that amphetamine had no side effect. World War II also provided an excellent reason for amphetamine manufacture: the military and civilians needed to enhance alertness and endurance in the tense wartime. In reality, its toxicity was more intense, and the damage was more severe.

During the two World Wars, the shipping routes from South America to Europe were indeed hindered significantly. German submarines attacked not only warships but also sank many merchant ships. They attempted to cut off the enemy's trade and supply lines with indiscriminate attacks. Moreover, during the wars, governments prioritized resources for military production. The transportation and trade of non-essential materials were restricted, including coca leaves and cocaine paste. The medical community lost interest in this drug after the war because it had too many life-threatening side effects.

The revival of cocaine began in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At that time, the establishment of the Cuban Communist regime forced many opponents to flee to the United States. These exiles urgently needed funds to support anti-communist activities. Drug trafficking was a good choice. Initially, cocaine was mainly consumed by the upper class, especially actors, rock stars, and wealthy businessmen. It became a symbol of luxury due to its high price and limited supply. The Beatles also publicly admitted to using it, making it gradually popular among young people. The film "Easy Rider" vividly displayed rebellion against reality and tradition: the members traveled the world on motorcycles; they numbed their minds with cocaine, marijuana, cigarettes, and alcohol. As more and more young people regard these stars as idols and imitated their lifestyles, cocaine became a trend again. Many songs began to subtly describe scenes and experiences of cocaine use.

Meanwhile, its production and smuggling rapidly spread to Colombia. Colombian drug traffickers were not satisfied with being intermediaries. They directly cultivated coca, established processing plants, and created a vast distribution network to continuously transport cocaine to the United States. Another reason is that half a century has passed since the horrors of the early 20th century. At that time, almost everyone knew several addicts whose health was severely damaged. The death of these individuals led to a gradual forgetting of dangerous cocaine. Young people only knew it as a substance that energized people.