Today, cocaine is a popular illicit drug - approximately 2.2 million Americans used cocaine in 2017, and just under half of them met the criteria for a cocaine use disorder. However, this did not stop the drug from being produced illegally. Thankfully after learning about the addictive properties of cocaine in 1914, the Harrison Narcotic Act banned the production of products with cocaine as the base.
In fact, it was included in early versions of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, long before people realized the adverse effects that cocaine could have on the system.
These synthetic versions were stronger and easier to produce than the coca plant - thus, the drug became inexpensive and prevalent. Eventually, chemists were able to isolate the active substances and recreate them synthetically. When Europeans discovered the Americas and learned of the effects of coca leaves, they too began experimenting with the plant both medically and recreationally. Ancient civilizations used coca leaves as a numbing agent and as a stimulant. Cocaine has a long history of use it is actually a naturally occurring chemical that is found in the coca plant native to South America. It is also a powerful anesthetic that is still used in some instances by medical professionals. Where Does Cocaine Come From?Ĭocaine is a stimulant drug, which means it increases activity in certain areas of the brain to deliver a burst of energy and euphoria. This is why crack might be referred to as “crack cocaine,” and why it produces a different high - the two different forms mean the drugs are used differently and have slightly different effects. The form of cocaine often called “coke” is the powdered form, while crack is cocaine that has been processed into a crystalline rock-like structure.
What is the Difference Between Cocaine and Crack?Ĭocaine and crack are in fact different names for the same basic drug.
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