Cocaine Paraphernalia Ads in the 70s (rarehistoricalphotos.com)

Article summary

The 1970s saw a surge in cocaine use, with the drug becoming a popular choice among entertainers and businesspeople. Advertisements for cocaine paraphernalia were common in magazines, with companies selling products such as snorting straws, razor blades, and powder containers. Despite the War on Drugs, selling and marketing coke equipment was a legitimate and lucrative business. The article highlights the contrast between the glamorous image of cocaine in the 1970s and its later reputation as a dangerous and addictive drug.

Main themes

• 1970s culture
• cocaine use
• substance abuse
• War on Drugs
• social normalization
• cultural shift
• historical context

What commenters say

• Cocaine use was widespread in the 1970s and was often glamorized in media and popular culture.
• The history of cannabis use is longer than that of cocaine use, but the history of coca leaf use is comparable to that of cannabis.
• Some industries still have a culture of cocaine use, particularly in management and executive levels.
• The normalization of substance abuse, including alcohol and vaping, may be viewed as similarly problematic in the future.
• The War on Drugs has been ineffective in reducing drug use and has led to a racket that perpetuates the problem.
• The depiction of the 1970s as a time of excess and debauchery is not just a joke, but a reflection of the era's reality.
• The use of cocaine and other substances is often intertwined with other cultural and social phenomena, such as music and nightlife.
• The perception of certain substances as acceptable or unacceptable can change over time, and what is considered normal today may be viewed as problematic in the future.