Part 11/15:
The Myth of the “Gateway” and Psychological Dependence
Challenging common narratives, English states that cocaine is not physiologically addictive in the way many believe. Contrary to propaganda from the 1980s war on drugs, he argues that cocaine’s addiction is primarily psychological. Many users, especially from backgrounds with cultural norms of casual use—such as Cuban exiles involved in trafficking—used cocaine recreationally without developing a dependency. They describe it akin to how coffee is consumed—used as a boost rather than an addiction.