America’s Insatiable Appetite for Cocaine Essay -- Exploratory Essays

Americas insatiable Appetite for cocaineWhere does Coca-Cola get its name? Why was it created? In 1886, the atomic number 31 pharmacist, John Pemberton, designed Coca-Cola as a headache remedy and a stimulant. The original beverage contained coca plantine and was used both as an rash beverage and a medically useful tonic. The effects of the drink helped hire it popular. Only in the early twentieth century was the drug eliminated from the Coca-Cola rule and replaced with increased amounts of caffeine.1 Cocaine has a long history which also involves the erst condoned use for medicinal purposes in the 1890s to being one of the most widespread abused drug today. Cocaine was the first effective local anaesthetic for use in minor surgery. Before being used in medicine, the Inca civilization of Peru confined the use of coca to the royal classes and priesthood because the leaves were considered a symbolization of divinity, a gift bestowed by the sun god. They clearly appreciated its p harmacological effects deflecting fatigue and hunger, enhancing endurance, and promoting a sense of happiness.1 Other civilizations gave cocaine to their slaves and workers rather of food and rest. There is ample evidence that Indians under the influence of coca can withstand exceptional hardships and perform heavy labor, without requiring proper eatable during that time....By using coca the Indians are able to travel on ft for hundreds of hours and run faster than horses without showing signs of fatigue.11 What is cocaine? How does cocaine increase wakefulness and decrease ones appetite? It is all in the head, more accurately, in the brain. Cocaine is derived from the coca plant Erythroxylon coca in a whiteness crystalline alkaloid powder. ... ....5. Holden, Constance. Cocaine Shrinks Your Brain? Science. 248 April 1990, p. 167.6. Cowen, Ron. Cocaine and the Nervous System. Science News. 137 April 1990, p. 238.7. Mendelson, diddlysquat H., M.d. et al. Anterior, Adrenal, and G onadal Hormones During Cocaine Withdrawal. The American journal of Psychiatry. 145 September 1988, p. 1095.8. Volkow, Nora D., M.D. et al. Changes in Brain Glucose Metabolism in Cocaine Dependence and Withdrawal. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 148 May 1991, p. 621.9. Satel, Sally L., M.D. et al. Clinical Phenomenology and Neurobiology of Cocaine Abstinence A prospective Inpatient Study. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 148 December 1991. P. 1713.10. Gawin, Frank H. Cocaine addiction Psychology and Neurophysiology. Science. 251 March 1991. P. 1580.11. Freud, Sigmund. Uber Coca. July 1884.