Article by Drug Science,
For more information, visit https://www.drugscience.org.uk/
Cocaine is probably the most famous drug in the world. Cocaine was the drug of choice for Sigmind Freud, Hunter S. Thompson and Charles Dickens, among others. As a powder it conjures images of parties and high-powered corporate jobs. This blog aims to explore the deeper history behind cocaine, from indigenous communities chewing coca leaves to the crack epidemic of the 80s and 90s.
Coca Leaves
Coca leaves are the natural source of cocaine. Typically, dried coca leaves contain about 0.6% cocaine by weight. This, alongside the less bioactive route of administration, means that a relatively large quantity of leaves must be chewed to illicit a psychoactive effect. The psychoactive effect arising from chewing coca leaves is generally less intense than that of powdered cocaine for the same reason. That said, some of the differences between coca leaves and cocaine powder could be explained by the wide variety of potentially active alkaloids present in the leaves.
The practice of chewing coca leaves long pre-dates cocaine as we know it today. There is evidence of Peruvian coca leaf use as far back as 8000 years ago, but the practice still exists today. It appears that the earliest use of coca leaves involved mixing the leaves with lime (extracted from calcium-rich rocks) to potentiate the effects. Coca leaves were likely used as a stimulant, ceremonial drug and for medical purposes. The practice of consuming the leaves alongside an alkaline substance has continued to this day, but typically this is now sourced from burnt vegetable products rather than rocks.
Currently, about 3 million people chew coca leaves in Peru alone, and the number across the world may be much higher. There is some evidence that chewing coca leaves may be beneficial for communities living at high altitude, but more research is needed. Since chewing coca leaves involves leaving the leaves between the gum and teeth for up to three hours at a time, there are many potential side effects. These side effects include oral cancers, oral squamous cell carcinoma, anaemia and liver damage.
Cocaine
Although the leaves had been known for their psychoactive effects for thousands of years, the active molecule was not isolated until 1855 – by Friedrich Gaedcke. Early research into cocaine focussed on its neurological and physiological effects, largely ignoring the potential for use as a local anaesthetic.
Coca wine (Vin Mariani) was the driving force for the early popularity of the drug. The ethanol in the wine helped to extract more cocaine from the leaves, and there was likely some synergistic effects from mixing alcohol and cocaine (this is still a popular, yet dangerous, combination – producing a drug called cocaethylene in the body). The wine generally contained between 6-7 mg of cocaine per fluid ounce. In keeping with the times it was widely promoted for its health benefits, with adverts claiming that it could increase energy, and act as a performance enhancer. While these claims are no doubt true, they likely left out some key information on potential health risks.
An advert for Vin Mariani with Pope Leo appearing prominently in the advert.
Crack Cocaine
Crack cocaine, a freebase form of the drug which can be smoked, rose to prominence in the 1980s. Its use was mostly confined to socioeconomically deprived regions of cities in America. Although crack cocaine is chemically similar to cocaine (being the same drug but without the attached salt), it is generally considered much stronger than cocaine, and its effects last for much less time, since it is typically smoked rather than snorted.
Crack cocaine was used as an excuse for radical drug policy reform. Fear-mongering was rife, with terminology such as ‘crack babies’ thrown around with little evidence or benefit.
Harm reduction
Cocaine is one of the most popular drugs in the world, with nearly 3% of people in the US and the UK having used the drug in the past year. While use is often harmless, addiction and overdose can affect anyone, in all walks of life. People using cocaine should attempt to limit their use to special occasions to prevent it from becoming a habit. Users should also be aware that due to cocaine’s blocking of the sodium channel in the heart, overdose can be more unpredictable than it is for other drugs. This is especially concerning for long-term users due to cocaine’s cardiotoxic effects.
Limiting use of cocaine and alcohol together is also wise, as the two can react in the body to form a new drug called cocaethylene. This is a stronger stimulant, with higher risk of harm and a longer duration of effects.
Cocaine bought on the street is typically mixed with other drugs to bulk it out, including levamisole (a common veterinary dewormer), benzocaine, lidocaine and amphetamines. These cutting agents (especially levamisole and amphetamine) can present their own risks. It is always worth checking your drugs with our cocaine and crack reagent testing kit and our cocaine cuts drug testing kit.
Further reading
Coca: The History and Medical Significance of an Ancient Andean Tradition
Coca leaves first chewed 8,000 years ago – BBC News
History of the Inca Empire – Father Bernabe Cobo
Cocaine: a brief history on the discovery, popularisation and early use of medicinal cocaine
