Final answer:
Nearly 40 million Americans aged 12 and older have used cocaine.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, nearly 40 million Americans ages 12 and older have used cocaine. Cocaine addiction is a significant health issue with profound social implications. Its addictive properties are linked to its impact on the reward pathway in the brain. Even a single dose of cocaine can produce tolerance, and the risk of addiction increases rapidly with continued use. Withdrawal symptoms include depression, anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure), and fatigue.
The impact of cocaine on society extends beyond health, influencing legal frameworks and social dynamics. During the 1980s, two forms of cocaine were prevalent—crack cocaine, associated with lower-income, Black, and Hispanic populations, and the powder form, associated with more affluent users. The criminal penalties for possession or use of these substances reflected societal disparities. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 imposed severe sentences for crack cocaine possession, highlighting the 100 to 1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, until reforms began addressing these disparities decades later with the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010.
Policy responses to drug use, such as the aforementioned three strikes laws and the emphasis on punitive rather than rehabilitative measures, have contributed to mass incarceration, particularly of minority groups. Addressing cocaine use requires a nuanced approach, balancing health, legal, and social considerations.