The development of federal statutes and the underlying reasons that led to the criminalization of psycho-active substances in American society began at the turn of the twentieth century. Society reacted to the detriment that resulted from unchecked promotion and use of heroin and cocaine by addicts, paving ethe way for the government to begin drug regulation. The problem had grown during the end of the nineteenth century due to the new methods of ingestion and the isolation of active compounds. In responding to these developments some powerful Americans would learn early on that under the guise of tackling the risks and crippling effects of addiction they could promote corporate monopolies, a single world order, and pacification of liberty. Addiction's impact on society was a small factor when compared to the actions of a powerful few who saw the masses as only pawns.
Several developments in the latter part of the nineteenth century helped boost the surge of drug use in America. Albert Niemann first isolated the highly addictive active ingredient of the coca plant 'cocaine' in 1859 (Cocaine Timeline). The first synthesis of heroin occurred during this period and is credited to C.R. Wright in 1874, who derived heroin from the purified opiate 'morphine', first isolated from opium in 1803 by F. W. A. Sertürner (Syndistar), (Musto 183). This coincided with the 1853 development of the hypodermic syringe independently produced by the Scottish physician, Alexander Wood, and French surgeon, Charles Gabriel Pravaz (Heroin Timeline). The hypodermic syringe opened a direct route to the brain for the now pure forms of cocaine and refined opiates. This powerful new combination of purified drugs along with the new method of intravenous injection with the syringe gained a foothold and resulted in a type of drug use and addiction that was previously unseen. While it seemed regulation of these new powerful combinations was going to be needed, the public never imagined citizens would be serving life sentences for distribution of these substances in the near future.
Several developments in the latter part of the nineteenth century helped boost the surge of drug use in America. Albert Niemann first isolated the highly addictive active ingredient of the coca plant 'cocaine' in 1859 (Cocaine Timeline). The first synthesis of heroin occurred during this period and is credited to C.R. Wright in 1874, who derived heroin from the purified opiate 'morphine', first isolated from opium in 1803 by F. W. A. Sertürner (Syndistar), (Musto 183). This coincided with the 1853 development of the hypodermic syringe independently produced by the Scottish physician, Alexander Wood, and French surgeon, Charles Gabriel Pravaz (Heroin Timeline). The hypodermic syringe opened a direct route to the brain for the now pure forms of cocaine and refined opiates. This powerful new combination of purified drugs along with the new method of intravenous injection with the syringe gained a foothold and resulted in a type of drug use and addiction that was previously unseen. While it seemed regulation of these new powerful combinations was going to be needed, the public never imagined citizens would be serving life sentences for distribution of these substances in the near future.
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