Cocaine Badger

I was first used recreationally in the 1860s. People were using me as a recreational drug over one hundred and forty years ago.A few years after my synthesis in 1858-1860 (I had actually been isolated as early as the 1840s), I appeared in cigarettes, ointments, nasal sprays, and preparations sold as tonics.These legal tonics had myself (coke) mixed with other substances, including morphine, codeine, and opium. They were sold in a liquid form, and cured "whatever ailed you". The powder itself was used recreationally almost as soon as it was isolated.The most popular of cocaine laced products was Vin Mariani. It was a wine and cocaine mixture that was launched in 1863. Nearly all popular personalities of the day used and endorsed it. These Vin Maria lovers included: Queen Victoria, The Pope, Thomas Edison, and others.As for now...According to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 34.2 million Americans ages 12 and older had tried cocaine at least once in their lifetimes, representing 14.2% of the population ages 12 and older. Approximately 5.7 million (2.4%) has used cocaine in the past year and 2.0 million (0.8%) had used cocaine within the past month.Cocaine is a $35 billion illicit industry now exceeding Columbia's ..1 export, coffee. For more about me, see my cousin, Crack.