did they really think cocaine was harmless??

[goldie]

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

weird...everything you said, I was going to say.

well, except for the NY part.

weird! this was one of the few times I actually got to a new thread soon after it's posted and can actually say something other than "yeah, what he/she said" lol!

xoxoxo

[David]

As late as 1980, influential scientific writings reflected the prevailing non-critical assessment of the dangers of cocaine: The 1980 edition of the Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry asserted that cocaine posed no serious problem, if use was limited to two or three times a week.

http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/9712/appc.htm

[gldstwmn]

The 70's was a time in this culture where a lot of people thought they were invincible.

[SuzeQuze]

My dad stayed away from drugs out of principle even during those times. So people did know they were not good for you. But they didn't know the extent of it. Also, doctors said back then that cocaine was not addictive. I would imagine being a musician and watching everyone do it, have all that fun, and boundless energy, it would be pretty hard to pass it up. I don't think I would have so it is a good thing I came of age later!

Villavic, this is an interesting thread, a subject that I've often thought about. Along the same lines, my mom often said that if she'd known how unhealthy cigarettes were she never would have started. I don't really believe that either, they had to know, in probably about 1967, that they were bad for you! I mean, once you start you can feel the difference in your lung capacity and all.

[Travisevian]

I've often wondered about this as well. Stevie has discussed the naïveté of people in the 1970's but it must have occurred to them that they were using a substance that was illegal and could be detrimental. She once said, I believe, in an interview that she was specifically warned about heroin but no one ever told her that cocaine was bad, which is hard to believe.

Originally Posted by David

As late as 1980, influential scientific writings reflected the prevailing non-critical assessment of the dangers of cocaine: The 1980 edition of the Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry asserted that cocaine posed no serious problem, if use was limited to two or three times a week.

http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/9712/appc.htm

Incredible! Thanks for sharing, David.

[markolas]

I agree that it was probably willful ignorance. I can't imagine them not knowing it was harmful, especially in the quantities they were using.

Sort of off-topic, but wasn't cocaine used medicinally at one time? I see pictures of those cute little porcelain cocaine jars from the 19th century - like it was part of a canister set or something (flour, sugar, coffee, tea, cocaine). Then of course, there was laudanum.

[jay]

They've all lived to tell the tale so it can't have been that bad.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by jay

They've all lived to tell the tale so it can't have been that bad.

I guess it's ok for you to do it then.

[louielouie2000]

I think there really was a lot of ignorance about cocaine back in the height of Fleetwood Mac's fame. For instance, during that era, one of my Aunts got pregnant with her first son (1981). She asked her OB/GYN if she should stop her daily coke habit, if it would harm the baby. He said no, just use in moderation. So if even doctors during this era weren't sold on the harmful effects of coke, then you can certainly see why rock stars wouldn't be, either.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by markolas

I agree that it was probably willful ignorance. I can't imagine them not knowing it was harmful, especially in the quantities they were using.

Sort of off-topic, but wasn't cocaine used medicinally at one time? I see pictures of those cute little porcelain cocaine jars from the 19th century - like it was part of a canister set or something (flour, sugar, coffee, tea, cocaine). Then of course, there was laudanum.

forget cocaine. Heroin was used medically in the 19th century.

And as a response to the original question, I'd say yes they thought it was harmless and really, were they wrong? I'm not condoning cocaine, and i've never done it but in the end, it really isn't even considered that much of a hardcore drug. maybe a small step over pot. How many cocaine overdoses have their been throughout history? if there were, more then likely it was cocaine plus something else. sure it burned a hole in stevie's nose but really it's just really strong powdered red bull.

[Nathan]

^^^

Cocaine is a dangerous, dangerous substance.
It think that it pretty regularly leads to cardiac arrest, brain anurisms, and insanity, does it not?

I remember a story that Tom Arnold on Larry King. He mentioned staying up for several days, and getting so far out there, that he found himself up against a mirror, trying to remove the thin membrane that covers the eye - with a razor blade.

I can personally speak to the incidious nature of a substance that you absolutely CAN NOT get enough of. I don't know, it's hard to explain, especially if YOU'VE NEVER DONE IT.