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3000 BCE
The Beginning
Cocaine also known as "coca" is one of the oldest, most potent and most dangerous stimulants of natural origin. -
3000 BCE
The Incas
The Incas in the Andes were the first one to discover coca. They would chew coca leaves to get that adrenaline rush feeling that way it can alter their breathing to counter the effects of living in thin mountain air. -
1532
How it Became Exploited
The coca leaf was many chewed by native Peruvians on for religious ceremonies. Once they were invaded by Spanish soldiers in 1532. They were forced to work for the Spaniards in their silver mines, they had kept the coca leaves because it gave them control. -
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Influences
During 1850s to the early 1900s, cocaine was at its peak. It was very popular in the film industry. It influences millions due to the pro-cocaine messages from Hollywood -
Being Extracted From The Leaves
In 1859, Cocaine was isolated from the coca leaves by a German chemist Albert Niemann -
First To Use Cocaine
In 1884, an Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, was the first to try the drug and to promote cocaine as a cure psychological need. He would then recommend cocaine to his close friends. -
Coca Leaves in Drinks
In 1886, One of the biggest soft drinks to this day known as Coca Cola by john Pemberton. He included coca leaves as an ingredient into his drink. The ecstatic and stimulating effects that this drink gave a consumer, was what rise steeply the popularity of Coca Cola. -
Dangers of Cocaine in Cola
As I mentioned coca leaves was an ingredient found in Coca-Cola, in 1903, due to its dangerous affects the public pressured the company to remove it from the soft drink. -
Effects of Snorting Cocaine
In 1905, snorting cocaine become popular method of consuming the substance. Within 5 yrs there were reports of nasal damaging caused from snorting cocaine. -
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Cocaine Being Banned
In 1912, U.S government reported 5000 deaths in one year that were cocaine related. In 1922 cocaine was banned and illegal. -
Cocaine Being Distributed into U.S
Colombian cartel ran by the notorious drug dealer Pablo Escobar, began searching for networks in the states to smuggle it into the states. -
Cocaine Being Fashionable
in the 1970s, cocaine was entertainers and business-peoples best friend. It helped people wake-up as it provided them energy. As the film The Wolf of Wall Street portrays cocaine as being a staple in the business industry. -
Addicting
Cocaine was expense, it was consider the rich mans drug. since one would become addicted it became a habit to send money on the drug. Later on this was known as Americas most dangerous and addicting drug that causes poverty, crime and death. -
Amount of Cocaine
in 1990, the Colombian drug cartels were fighting to get the most of the white powder smuggled not only into the United States but also other continents such as Asia and Europe. Approximately 500 to 800 tons of cocaine was export in a year. -
Being Illegal
Cocaine became the second most illegal drug in the world being distributed. -
Till This Day
What Began as a Religious Tradition in the Andes has turned into abuse throughout the world. -
References
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, “State of the Drug Problem in Europe, 2008” U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Fact Sheet on Cocaine National Institute on Drug Abuse: “NIDA Info Facts: Crack and Cocaine,” April 2008 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Drug Report 2008
“Cocaine Facts & Figures,” Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2008 “Monitoring the Future: National Results on Adolescent Drug Use Overview of Key Findings 2007,” National Institute on Drug Abuse
