This volume investigates the complex global trajectory of cocaine, questioning how a substance transitioned from a celebrated medical miracle to a stigmatized illicit commodity. Paul Gootenberg, a prominent historian of Latin American drug trade, assembles a collection of international scholars to analyze the socio-political and economic forces that shaped the drug's modern identity. By examining diverse regional case studies, the text challenges traditional narratives of prohibition and drug control, proposing a more nuanced understanding of how global markets and local regulations interact.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the transnational history of illicit substances. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous archival research that informs each chapter.