When cocaine reappeared in the 1970s it was touted as the champagne of drugs because it was expensive, high status, and said to have no serious consequences. At first considered a safe stimulant and nerve tonic, coca's addictive and destructive properties became apparent within 30 years of its introduction as a pharmaceutical product. Coca did not find use in Western medicine until the late 19th century when American drug companies began to explore that part of the world for new medicines. Up to the mid-19th century coca growing and use had been restricted to the area of its natural habitat, the Andes mountain range of the northwestern region of South America. In South America inhabitants would chew the leaves as they were believed to elevate mood, help with digestion, and suppress appetites.
European explorers in the 16th century made note of its existence and how it was used.
For over 4,000 years coca, or Erythroxylon coca, has been used as a medicine and stimulant in what is now Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.
