Past and present perspectives on cocaine in Britain

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Thanks to the Rolleston Report of 1926, the prescription of opiates and cocaine was allowed in the United Kingdom to physicians who treated addicted people. Until 1960 there were only a few cases per annum. However, this regulation strongly encouraged the immigration of addicts and in specialized clinics great amounts of cocaine were used. This changed speedily when one understood that this was not the right method, and the prescription of cocaine-injections disappeared in 1968. Afterwards began the illegal use of cocaine and greater and greater amounts were seized by Customs and police. The official number of cocaine-addicted people is however very low. At this time, the Police of the United Kingdom cannot yet decide if there is a beginning cocaine-epidemic or if cocaine should still be considered as a secondary drug.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)547-55
Number of pages9
JournalVerhandelingen - Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België
Volume53
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 1991

Keywords

  • Cocaine
  • Commerce
  • England
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Substance-Related Disorders

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