It is known to make you feel euphoric. Some people say it gives them an ultimate rush and that senses such as sound, sight, and touch are enhanced. Some say that it gives them the energy to get things done faster, others are just the opposite. But is it worth your health? How about your life? .
Cocaine is a natural stimulant drug found in the leaves of the coca plant, Erythroxylon coca. It has been used for centuries dating back as far as 500 A.D. where archeologists found coca leaves at Peruvian gravesites. In the past, the leaves from the coca plant were chewed for a variety of medicinal, religious, and work-related reasons. Many Indian tribes used the coca leaves for religious celebrations, especially the Incans who believed the leaves to be an herb provided by the god "Inti" who let the Incas endure their bad environmental conditions without suffering from fatigue and hunger. (Solomon 123) When the Spanish conquered and enslaved the Incas, they would let the Indians chew on the leaves because it gave them the energy to work longer and harder with less food and rest. The plant was also getting recognition as being able to treat all kinds of medical problems including asthma, venereal diseases, toothaches and headaches. It wasn't until the 1880's that pure cocaine was used as an anesthetic for eye, nose, and throat surgeries. It worked well because of its ability to constrict blood vessels and decrease bleeding. (Barter 26).
Nobody really knew how serious the drug really was. Now it is one of the most dangerous drugs on the street. According to the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 33.9 million Americans ages 12 and older had tried cocaine at least once in their lifetimes, representing 14.4% of the population ages 12 and older. Approximately 5.9 million (2.5%) has used cocaine in the past year and 2 million (0.9%) had used cocaine within the past month.
