Crack Cocaine Prices, Cocaine Statistics and Cocaine Addiction
Coke, blow, snow, devil's dandruff, the fast white lady are one of the numerous names that cocaine has acquired over the years. Cocaine is a crystalline, tropane alkaloid, that is obtained from coca leaves which originate in South America. In all parts of the world, it is illegal to cultivate, possess and distribute for non-governmental approved purposes. Cocaine prices and cocaine statistics vary according to several socioeconomic factors. Like many drugs, Cocaine is looked at very differently today than when it was first discovered.
South American indigenous people have chewed on the leaves of coca for generations. When the Spaniards arrived to South America, there were many claims about the leaves giving strength and energy. When these claims were found to be true, the Spaniards quickly legalized and taxed the leaf. Other claims were made of the leaf which protected the body from ailments, reduced swelling of wounds, strengthened broken bones, subdued flatulence and whitened teeth for some examples.
Isolation of the actual chemical was achieved in 1855, by a German chemist named Friedrich Gaedcke. Since then, Cocaine became a widely used and talked about substance within many different circles, such as the scientific community and laborers. In the late 1800s, Western Medicine took on the task of experimenting with the substance. In 1879 cocaine became the substance of choice to treat morphine addiction. Angelo Mariani introduced coca wine called Vin Mariani which contained 7.2 mg per ounce. The original 1886 Coca Cola recipe included a "pinch of coca leaves". In 1885, U.S manufacturer Parke-Davis made lucrative profits from selling cocaine in various forms: cigarettes, powder, and even a mixture that a user could inject directly into their veins. The company promised that their products would make the weak strong, and render a person insensitive to pain.
Early 20th century saw the sale of cocaine in neighborhood drugstores, however by the turn of the 20th century, the addictive properties became well known. Cocaine became the scapegoat of dominant racial and social anxieties of the day. With the enacting of the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, came high taxes on all phases of cocaine trafficking and strict measures on the sale and distribution. This was a way for the government to gain some measure of control over this substance.
According to the DEA, Cocaine is one of the primary drug threats within all states. It is smuggled in commercial cargo vessels, private pleasure craft, cargo and passenger planes and automobiles. Cocaine trafficking organizations in Alaska obtain their supplies from the lower 48 states, and because of Alaska's remote locations, these organizations are able to resell cocaine in Alaska at grossly inflated rates. This is but one example of the varying cocaine prices and cocaine statistics around the world. Penalties for possession and distribution range from not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years in prison for first offense, and a fine between 2 to 5 million dollars for heavy traffickers of cocaine.
The continued use of cocaine results in increased irritability, restlessness, and paranoia which often results in full-blown paranoid psychosis and auditory hallucinations. Snorting cocaine can lead to loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds and many other side effects. Ingesting cocaine can lead to bowel gangrene, and injecting cocaine can lead to severe allergic reactions, increased risk for contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases.
Cocaine Pictures and Usage in the United States
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Cocaine Addiction Statistics
Drug Name: Crack, Cocaine
Description: drug description
Number of Uses: 2,714
Total Economic Cost in 2011: $60,740.67
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Daily Cocaine Price Trends - Find Statistics by Name and Weight
