9781422270516

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