Gilbert Cocaine Abuse - Brief History of Cocaine

Gilbert Cocaine Abuse - In the late 1800s, cocaine was isolated from the leaf of the coca plant. Soon after, cocaine became a popular ingredient in certain medications and products.

After concern grew over cases of addiction, death, and psychosis in users of the substance, the Pure Food & Drug Act of 1906 was passed to help combat some of these problems. Eventually, the 1914 Harrison Act outlawed the over-the-counter use of cocaine and opiates.

Cocaine's popularity immediately diminished, though doctors continued to use it as a local anesthetic. By the 1960s, however, cocaine had reemerged as a wildly popular drug of abuse.

Today, cocaine sells for about $100 per gram and remains popular with middle- and upper-class drug users. Additionally, cocaine is one of the most commonly implicated drugs in emergency room visits.