[ANSWER]Addiction Essays: #1: Sigmund Freud’s Relationship with Cocaine

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Relationship with Cocaine: Born in 1856, Freud started using cocaine in his early days as a brain researcher. His research on the functioning of the brain and the physical properties of cocaine led him to discover that the drug had stimulative and analgesic properties (Linn, 2002). He realized that he felt better regarding his digestive function and mood after taking water mixed with cocaine (Londono, 2014)(Relationship with Cocaine).

As a result, besides using the drug himself, he publicly recommended its use as an analgesic and antidepressant. Additionally, Freud advocated for the use of cocaine in curing addiction to morphine. Indeed, he introduced the drug to one of his close friends who was battling a morphine addiction – Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow, a physiologist who also played an instrumental role in advancing knowledge of the brain and the nervous system (Markel, 2011).

Fleischl-Marxow had been grappling with severe nerve pain associated with an infection he had acquired following an injury he sustained while conducting an autopsy. Freud prematurely claimed that cocaine was effective in curing Fleischl-Marxow’s morphine addiction. Regrettably, Fleischl-Marxow suffered cocaine-induced psychosis after a short while and reverted to morphine use to cope with his chronic pain (Londono, 2014).

This dealt a major blow to Freud’s advocacy of cocaine as a regimen for morphine addiction, with his reputation as a medical practitioner suffering considerable harm. Freud’s professional reputation even came into more limelight when cases of cocaine addiction in various parts of the world started to emerge (Markel, 2011). This saw Freud cease his public promotion of the use of cocaine for medical purposes, albeit he continued using the…[Buy Full Answer for Just USD 9: 2677 WORDS]

[Relationship with Cocaine: SOLUTION DESCRIPTION]

Type: Essay

Word Count: 2677

Grade/Mark: 85 (Distinction)

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