Abstract
The purpose of this work is to know the history behind cocaine use in the past. Another objective is to identify, if possible, the course of action that should be taken to avoid future occurrence of the same problem. Through research, it was found out that during the early period, there was no restriction on the trading and production of cocaine and other products containing cocaine. Moreover, cocaine and products containing cocaine were even promoted. Based on the finding, it is recommended that before allowing any substance to be consumed by the public, thorough investigation on the substance or product should be performed.
Coca to Cocaine
Browsing through the reading material “The Major Stimulants: Cocaine and Amphetamines”, a story of an individual who had an encounter with a dangerous drug, cocaine, caught my attention (Levinthal, 2005). The individual is Sigmund Freud. I cannot believe a brilliant person like him would indulge in such a dangerous drug. I begin to wonder, what made him use it? Was he not aware of the consequences of using cocaine? Was it not common knowledge that cocaine is a dangerous drug? Freud’s encounter with cocaine aroused my curiosity.
I continued to read on Freud’s life account and found out he even recommended and distributed cocaine to his friends and relatives for some time (Levinthal, 2005, p. 89). Again, I asked myself, was it legal to use and distribute it at the time? How come he had access to this drug?
Reading further, I found out that cocaine is a derivative from the coca plant, found in the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes in South America. Ancient Incas chewed leaves of the plant for additional stamina and strength. It was the Spaniards who introduced the plant in Europe after the conquest of the Incas. And, in 1859, a German chemist named Alfred Niemann, isolated the active ingredient in the coca plant and discovered its anesthetic property. He named the substance “cocaine”. Popularity of cocaine boosted in the 1860’s when patent medical industry in Europe and United States took advantage of the drug’s charm (Levinthal, 2005, p. 87).
In 1863, Corsican chemist Angelo Mariani combined coca and wine, an intoxicating mixture, and called it “Vin Mariani”. The concoction became a hit in Europe and United States. Meanwhile, pharmacist John Pemberton of Atlanta capitalized on the popularity of “Vin Mariani” and promoted his version, the “French Wine Cola”, in the United States. In 1885, Pemberton reformulated “French Wine Cola“by replacing wine with soda water and adding syrup from African Kola nut with 2 percent caffeine. Pemberton named the new drink “Coca-cola”. Competing brands followed the trend (Levinthal, 2005, p. 88).
Freud learned about cocaine’s effect of increasing endurance from fatigue and giving a general feeling of lightheartedness from a report of a German army physician in 1884. Freud, suffering from over-fatigue and depression, secured and tried the drug with invigorating results (Levinthal, 2005, p. 88). Given the popularity of cocaine at the time, it was not hard for Freud to secure cocaine.
Later, Freud discovered the negative effect of cocaine abuse from a friend, Dr. Ernst von Fleischl, who exhibited severe form of psychosis. Fleischl suffered from fornication, or the feeling of snakes crawling on the skin, and suffered years of torment and excruciating pain until his death. Freud’s enthusiasm towards cocaine turned to disillusionment from then on (Levinthal, 2005, p. 90).
Taking into account the unpleasant event on Freud’s life, I cannot help but wonder how many people got the same destiny? Was there a chance that sufferings from cocaine dependence could have been avoided during that period?
The general public during Freud’s period expressed their disapproval on cocaine use between 1880 and 1910 (Levinthal, 2005, p. 90). The solution provided is the “Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906” that orders listing of active ingredients on patent medicine labels. Cocaine was banned in Canada through the “Propriety and Patent Medicine Act of 1908”. In the United States, restrictions were implemented through the Harrison Act of 1914 (Levinthal, 2005, p. 88).
It should be noted that the restrictions and banning of cocaine was implemented only because of the widespread disapproval of cocaine use by the public. In my opinion, if the European and United States government of those period implemented restrictions before giving patents to consumer products, the disaster could have been avoided or, at least, reduced to a lesser degree. My idea is that maybe because of the promotions of products during that period, millions of people were exposed to the exhilarating effect of cocaine. Knowing the thinking of people “if it makes you feel good, it is good to take”, then I’m not surprised how many people fall prey to the monster drug cocaine.
If it is any consolation, I am aware of the intensity of governmental efforts to eradicate smuggling and use of cocaine and other dangerous drugs at the present.
Reference
Levinthal, Charles F. (2005). Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society. Allyn and Bacon. 86-94.
