Cocaine was not widely available. This country has had actually 4 cocaine "epidemics", the first in the 1870s or so, when one president was a cocaine addict. The second was in the early 1900's, the third in the late '20s and '30s. The cult film "Reefer Madness" was really about the effects of cocaine.
What has prevented more folks from being more addicted has been the lack of availability. Do you know where to buy any? Would you spend the money?
Typically a person who starts on cocaine will keep going until they are out of money and can't get more.
An interesting thing about cocaine and amphetamines is that they change brain chemistry, probably permanently, so that the person winds up with a long-term, low-grade depression. Not like real depressions, though, in that they can know things are funny, don't experience them that way.
These folks look at life as gray, flat, two-dimensional. Nothing is very satisfying or pleasurable, unless they find more of a stimulant.
That can be treated, isn't very often, and leads to relapse.
But make cocaine widely available and cheap and there will be a big, big problem. I don't care, I won't use it. But it will take out more people than OBL, Stalin, Hitler and Sharon (thought about that one, couldn't resist) ever dreamed of.
Arf
Current Events » in reply to Maybe, but...
No "maybe, but".
The whole thread (43 posts)
- Ashcroft Says Terrorism-Drug Trafficking Link 'Shocking' . . .
- Profits on illegal drugs
- Well, you don't expect the gov't to do it.
- I would take issue with this part
- Legalization
- Marijuana
- It should all be legal. Period. § (n/t)
- Re: Profits on illegal drugs
- Well, you don't expect the gov't to do it.
- "Shocking", my foot.
- Profits on illegal drugs