Coca, Cocaine, Psychedelics, and Designer Drugs: An Overview
Coca and Cocaine: A Historical Perspective
Cocaine’s introduction to Europe occurred in the mid-nineteenth century. Albert Niemann isolated the active ingredient in 1860, and Wilhelm established the alkaloid’s chemical formula in 1862. In 1884, Karl Köhler performed the first surgical procedure using cocaine as a local anesthetic. Sigmund Freud conducted a pilot study in 1884 to assess its potential in treating psychiatric diseases. Initially, Freud championed cocaine, highlighting its stimulant effects and local anesthetic properties, even recommending it for anxiety and neurasthenia. However, its high toxicity at high doses and in certain situations soon became apparent.
In the 1960s and 70s, cocaine use resurfaced, primarily through inhalation. The emergence of crack cocaine in 1983, with its lower price, led to increased abuse. Cocaine use in Spain remained minimal until the mid-1970s.
Psychedelic Drugs: Exploring Altered States of Consciousness
Many plants possess unexplained effects, transporting the human mind to ethereal realms. These substances, known as hallucinogens, have historically been revered, with plants considered divine or linked to the gods. Focus has been given to the origins of their use and their impact on humanity. Some plants contain chemicals that induce visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory hallucinations, or even artificial psychosis. Consequently, they feature prominently in the religious rites of ancient civilizations and are often objects of veneration.
Peyote
Peyote, also designated as Anhalonium, was central to the religious rituals and celebrations of Mexican Indians, a practice that continues in their sacred ceremonies today.
Psilocybe mexicana
This fungus, known as Teonanacatl (meaning “flesh of god”) in the Aztec language, was used in secret magic mushroom rituals, in contrast to the public use of peyote. Today, it is primarily used by indigenous communities.
Mescaline
Mescaline, an alkaloid found in peyote, was isolated in 1896. During the 1960s, with the rise of psychedelic drugs and awareness of the dangers of LSD, interest in mescaline as a psychoactive substance grew, leading to its widespread use in the USA and Europe.
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was synthesized in the 1940s by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann. It is derived from ergot, an extract with known toxic effects since the Middle Ages, but also with medicinal properties. Midwives used it to contract the uterus and induce labor.
Designer Drugs: Synthesized for Novel Experiences
The term “designer drugs” describes a social phenomenon involving drugs synthesized in laboratories that have not been commercially exploited or whose therapeutic or recreational potential is being rediscovered. These drugs are sought after due to a growing desire to access unusual or altered states of consciousness and experience, as well as to transgress norms and participate in cultural movements.
Drugs as Disease: The Medicalization of Addiction
In the late nineteenth century, the dependence caused by morphine (morphinomania) and cocaine led to drug trials in several countries. The formation of a disease concept within natural science, concerns about public health, and specific political and economic conditions in Western countries fostered an attitude against the addiction to certain substances.