Cocaine and Colombia

For thousands of years indigenous peoples in Colombia and throughout the Andean Region of South America have used the coca leaf for spiritual and practical purposes. Not until past thirty years ago, however, did Colombians begin processing the coca leaf into cocaine in order to become the world’s leading producer and exporter of the drug. A few Colombians have become incredibly rich from the cocaine trade. Many others have turned to the coca and cocaine trade in a desperate attempt to survive in the midst of poverty. Meanwhile, millions of Colombians have suffered the violence that is related to the cocaine trade and counter-narcotics efforts to combat the industry.

This section looks at the history of coca and cocaine in Colombia and the social, cultural and environmental costs of the illicit drug industry. It also examines life in coca-growing regions of Colombia. Finally, it addresses the shortcomings of the U.S.-pushed militaristic approach to combating the cocaine trade and looks at the need for more comprehensive alternative approaches to the problem.