9781422270516

THE YOUNG ADULT DRUG LIBRARY: AN EDUCATION FOR TODAY

BY ERIC BENAC

MASON CREST M I A M I

PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2024 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4762-4 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4764-8 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7051-6 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Project Manager: Andrew Morkes Cover and Interior Design: Tara Raymo • CreativelyTara Layout: Priceless Digital Media, LLC Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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Introduction............................................................... 6 Sigmund Freud and Cocaine ......................................... 8 Chapter 1: What Is Cocaine?.......................................13 Jeanette’s Addiction and Recovery ............................. 31 Chapter 2: The Negative Physical Effects of Cocaine....35 Luke’s Story .............................................................. 48 Chapter 3: The Negative Mental Effects of Cocaine......53 Olivia and Joaquin’s Story: Battling Addiction Together ...67 Chapter 4: Treating Addiction to Cocaine....................71 Series Glossary of Key Terms.....................................89 Further Reading.......................................................92 Internet Resources...................................................93 Index....................................................................... 94 Author’s Biography and Credits.................................96 Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

Drug abuse remains a major problem in the United States and in other countries. In 2019, 13 percent of people aged 12 years and over reported that they had used an illegal drug in the past month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Abuse of prescription drugs, such as painkillers, is also a serious issue. Abusing drugs can have serious effects on one’s physical and mental health. It can also be deadly. One example is the rising number of drug overdoses, which have been fueled by the growing use and spread of the deadly opioid fentanyl. Nearly 100,000 Americans died from fentanyl overdoses from June 2020 to June 2021, according to the CDC. As a young person, you may have a lot of questions about drugs, addiction, and therapy as a result of the constant flow of information from your friends, parents, teachers, coaches, social media, and the news media. It can be confusing, because

Cocaine in powder form.

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Many people find it hard to break free from their addiction to cocaine.

some of this information is accurate, and some is incorrect. Your questions might include: How are drugs grown or manufactured? What are the negative physical and mental effects of drug use and abuse? What are the legal penalties for possessing illegal drugs? How do you know if someone is addicted to drugs? What are some treatment options for people who are addicted to drugs? The Young Adult Drug Library series provides answers to these and other questions about illegal and misused prescription drugs, addiction, and therapy. Each title spotlights a major drug or type of drug (such as painkillers); discusses the negative physical and mental effects of the addiction on the addict, as well as its effects on family and other loved ones; and provides an overview of treatment strategies for the addiction. Stories of those who are battling drug addiction are also featured to humanize these issues and help readers better understand that anyone can become addicted to drugs, but also that there is a possibility for recovery.

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SIGMUND FREUD AND COCAINE

In 1884, influential psychologist Sigmund Freud wrote an article titled “Uber Coca,” which discussed a “magical” substance that he believed cured many mental and physical health issues. While he stated that using cocaine too heavily could lead to moral and physical decadence, he believed that its positive effects outweighed the risk. Freud’s suggestions led to a heavy increase in cocaine’s use throughout his native Germany. He prescribed it to many of his closest friends, including his girlfriend. Furthermore, he claimed that there was likely no lethal dose possible with this substance and that it could be used safely by most people. His evidence included thousands of years of natural use of this substance by the people of Peru. Freud’s recommendations were taken very seriously by many and caused a significant increase in prescriptions for and usage of cocaine. In 1886, it gained further popularity when it was added to a new soft drink that quickly became very popular: Coca-Cola. By the turn of the century, Coca-Cola was the most popular soft drink on the market, and it remains a global success. Cocaine was first extracted as a chemical in 1859 by German chemist Albert Niemann. It came from coca leaves found throughout South America. These leaves had been chewed regularly by

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Cocaine

Sigmund Freud and his mother, Amalia Freud.

Sigmund Freud and Cocaine

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Coca leaves.

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Cocaine

residents of that region for thousands of years and were often used as a mild stimulant by many tribes during religious ceremonies. Freud’s recommendations caused a rash of heavy cocaine use that triggered a generation of addiction. One of his patients died after taking a (prescribed) heavy dose of this substance. Another began suffering from paranoid delusions of white snakes crawling over his skin. Millions of Coca-Cola drinkers became heavily addicted to the drink and suffered similar adverse effects. Ever since those early days of rampant cocaine use, this drug has remained illegal, and it was removed from Coca-Cola as early as 1903. However, its legacy as a drug lingers on and is likely to remain prevalent for years to come.

Sigmund Freud and Cocaine

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WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

alkaloids: various chemicals that are contained within cocaine, including the main high-producing ingredient and others cognitive: related to mental activity and thinking abilities, such as one’s ability to count, read, and even move properly corridor: in this context, a series of smuggling routes across multiple countries that typically includes several ground- and sea-based transportation methods cumulative: the total effect of a small series of changes, such as heart attacks caused by minor heart damage with cocaine use half-life: how long it takes the body to process a drug, including how long it creates a high and how quickly withdrawal effects develop testimonials: personal stories about drug use that help educate readers about their dangers, often shared online or in recovery groups trafficking: illegally moving illicit substances to sell in various markets, including transporting drugs across state or country borders

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HEROIN

WHAT IS COCAINE? About Cocaine Cocaine is a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says that it “has a high potential for abuse.” Cocaine is extracted from coca leaves that are grown throughout South America. It is an addictive stimulant that increases cognitive function and produces extra energy in the body. It can be used in a few ways. The powdered form is commonly snorted because it produces a quick high, or it is injected to produce a longer-lasting effect. Some users may smoke a form known as “crack cocaine.” The effects occur within minutes of ingestion and can last several hours before disappearing. How Is Cocaine Made and Distributed? Cocaine goes through a long extraction process that includes purifying various chemicals within coca leaves and combining them with multiple substances to produce a powder, which

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is then prepared and carefully preserved before sale. Note that these production methods may change, based on the manufacturer and may include various other dangerous and even lethal substances. A lengthy process is required to make cocaine. It is summarized in the following sections. Growing and Picking Cocaine creation starts when growers pick coca leaves and crush and stir them with water, lime, and kerosene. Yes: cocaine has a flammable fluid mixed in with it during its creation. This crushing process helps extract the coca alkaloids and wax. Producers then heat and cool this kerosene mixture to further separate the various components within the cocaine and make it usable for human consumption. Extracting the Wax All of this heating and cooling helps to separate a wax from the mixture that contains a heavy concentration of the alkaloids needed to produce the cocaine high. Manufacturers then add sulfuric acid to the extracted cocaine wax. This process creates a liquid solution called “cocaine sulfate.” It is from this mixture that cocaine powder is eventually produced. Producing the Coca Paste Manufacturers then add lime or ammonia to the cocaine liquid to create a paste. All of the ingredients listed so far are hazardous and can even be deadly if ingested in raw form. As a result, producers wear face masks and filters to protect themselves during production. Sulfuric acid once again dissolves the cocaine paste before potassium permanganate is added to filter out impurities in the paste.

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Cocaine

Creating the Base By that point, the cocaine paste has a white appearance due to oxidation in the production process. Manufacturers finally add lime or ammonia back into the solution to produce the free base of cocaine. They then clean, filter, rinse, and dry the paste before dissolving it in diethyl ether before further filtration. An acetone or solvent is added to produce the final cocaine.

Cocaine and other illegal drugs are often hidden in everyday items in an effort to hide them from airport security. Above, this photo shows three pounds of cocaine that was hidden in decorative figurines found in a traveler’s bags that arrived on a flight from Honduras. It was detected and seized by US Customs and Border Protection officers.

What Is Cocaine?

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The Extensive Cocaine Distribution Network The DEA reports that “approximately 90 percent of cocaine samples tested in its Cocaine Signature Program (which identified 19 coca-growing regions within South America) were from Columbia, 7 percent from Peru, and the other 2 percent from an unknown origin.” Cocaine trafficking into the United States and other markets is done through an extensive network of various channels, which are discussed in the following sections. The Mexican-Central American Corridor Drug enforcement officials in the United States estimate that 90 percent of all cocaine enters the country through the Mexico Central America Corridor . This route includes several overland distribution methods, including smuggling via trucks, cars, and even airplanes. Smugglers may bribe border officials to let them through customs, or they may even use violence to do so. Most travel through Central America and Mexico with ease due to low enforcement rates. While Mexican authorities have attempted to curtail cartel operations in recent years with continuing success, smuggling still occurs heavily throughout this corridor. Water-Based Delivery: The Primary Delivery Method Some cocaine is trafficked from South America through water based distribution methods, such as commercial ships, fishing vessels, and even submarines (i.e., “narco subs”). Water routes are popular because many travel through international waters that are rarely patrolled by military or police groups. Drug smugglers may even run into modern pirates in speed boats attempting to disrupt traffic and steal drugs. Routes vary, depending on the end destination but often include trips around the Galapagos Islands through Costa Rica

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Cocaine