The History of Cocaine: From Ancient Rituals to Modern Trafficking

Cocaine's history dates back thousands of years. Ancient Incas chewed coca leaves to increase their heart rates and speed up breathing to counter the thin Andean mountain air.

For the Incas, coca was a divine plant. They used it in various rituals and believed it could cure diseases. Spanish conquerors initially outlawed it, then promoted its use for labor.

In the 1850s, German chemist Albert Niemann isolated cocaine from coca leaves. By the late 1800s, it was widely used in tonics and elixirs as a miracle cure.

Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, once promoted cocaine for various ailments, including depression and sexual impotence. He later opposed its use due to addiction concerns.

Coca-Cola originally contained an estimated nine milligrams of cocaine per serving. The cocaine was removed in 1903, but the coca leaf extract remains a flavor component.

The early 1900s saw rising concerns over addiction and abuse. The U.S. passed the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914, beginning the regulation of cocaine.

In the 1970s and '80s, cocaine became a symbol of wealth. The Medellín Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, turned into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, fueling both the economy and violence.