Cocaine is one of the best known and most dangerous of the many illegal drugs that have been popular in the United States since the twentieth century. It is derived from the coca plant, which grows in some areas of Latin America. When ingested by humans, it usually produces feelings of great well-being, confidence, and mental clarity. The effect is short-lived, however, and the aftermath of cocaine use is often characterized by irritability, anxiety, paranoia—and the intense desire for more cocaine. The drug is habit-forming to many and addictive to some. The effects of its long-term abuse include nasal and sinus deterioration, brain damage, increased likelihood of strokes, and, in some cases, death. Some susceptible persons, like college basketball star Len Bias (1963–1986), can die as a result of their first experience with cocaine.

Concentrated cocaine was first extracted from coca leaves around 1860. It soon appeared as an...