Man has always been driven to control either his environment, or, alternatively, his physical and mental state. The use of drugs is one method by which such control can be obtained. Unfortunately though, illicit drugs always contain a certain potential for extreme toxicity. Cocaine is one such drug.
Cocaine use has been traced back to 600 A.D. (4:275). The remnants of coca leaves have been found in tombs in Bolivia and Peru (4:275). It wasn't until the late 1880s, however, that cocaine became widely known throughout the rest of the world. Then, in 1884, Sigmund Freud bestowed widespread notoriety on drug with his famous essay on coca (2:297). The first American epidemic of cocaine use occurred in the late 19th century (2:296). At that time there were no laws restricting its consumption or sale (2:296). Cocaine was freely available to anyone who desired it (2:296). For consumers on a budget, the drug could be obtained in soda pop form (8:226). Soon, however, cocaine's negative effects became readily apparent. The drug can be extremely toxic to many organs and organ systems. In particular, the reproductive system, the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, and other organ systems are all be adversely affected. Moreover, these effects very often ultimately result in death. Such facts led President William Taft to proclaim cocaine as Public Enemy No. 1 (2:296). Subsequently, Congress passed the Harrison Act which tightly regulated its sale and distribution (8:226).
Cocaine is an alkaloid (2:299). First isolated in 1859 by Albert Niemann from leaves of the Erythroxylon coca plant, the drug's chemical name is benzoylmethylecognine (1:2470). When treated with hydrochloric acid, the substance becomes cocaine hydrochloride (8:227). This water soluble compound is then marketed in the form of crystals or white powder (7:333).
The plasma half life of cocaine is approximately 1 hour (8:228). The drug is ...