Cocaine and the coca plant, from which it is made, have a unique place in the history of recreational and illegal drugs. Despite governments vowing to eliminate it, cocaine has kept its status as the champagne drug, associated in many people's minds with a high-living, high-rolling lifestyle. It has long been the choice of emperors, kings, politicians and pop stars. This title examines the cultural history of cocaine, from its first use in South America thousands of years ago through its fall from grace in the 1900s to its re-emergence in the 1970s and '80s as the drug of choice for millions of people. The author asks if there are lessons to be learned from our current moral panic about drugs, while considering the opinions of politicians, police and scientists a century ago.