Freud offered cocaine as a gift to friends

Sigmund Freud, the famous Ausrtrian neurologist, carried out several self-experiments with cocaine, in which he had swallowed various quantities of it, finding it useful in reducing levels of depression and anxiety.

“A small dose lifted me to the heights in a wonderful fashion. I am just now busy collecting the literature” — in German, French and English — “for a song of praise to this magical substance”, he said.

Freud liked Cocaine so much that he would offer it as a gift to family and friends!