17th-Century Milan Mummies Reveal Early Cocaine Use in Europe

New research uncovers traces of the drug in preserved brains, rewriting the history of its introduction to Europe.

Researchers found cocaine alkaloids in brain samples from a 17th-century Milan crypt.
The discovery suggests Europeans used coca leaves centuries before it was thought to be introduced.
Milan's historical ties to Spanish trade routes likely facilitated the early arrival of coca.
The study raises questions about the recreational use of coca leaves by impoverished individuals.
Findings highlight the complex global trade networks of the early modern period.