Coca in Bolivia: More than a Drug

            My practice this summer will be in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I will be working with an HIV/AIDs prevention program in Cochabamba. However, I wanted to use this blog post to talk about another issue in Bolivia that has been getting more international attention: the growth of coca, the plant used to make cocaine. For a while now the U.S. has been working on a campaign to eradicate coca in South and Central America before it can be transported through Central America to the U.S. to sell as cocaine.            

            However, the indigenous peoples of Bolivia have been vehemently opposed to the U.S.’s efforts. To them, coca is not just an ingredient in cocaine; it is a central part of their culture and traditions. Chewing coca together is a the beginning of many rituals and social interactions in the country.  Beyond tradition, many rural farmers rely on coca for their livelihood. When Evo Morales, the current President, ran in 2005, part of his platform was protecting coca growers. He was able to use his connection to the coca farmer unions to run a grassroots campaign focused on indigenous rights and the right to grow coca that managed to get him elected. I recently watched a great documentary on this, "Cocalero" that shows his rise to power (which you can find on Netflix!)

I think this tale is the perfect example of the "danger of a single story." Growing up in the U.S., we usually only hear the tale of cocaine, and the drug lords, violence, and addiction that are associated with it. I never would have thought that the derivative of cocaine, coca, could be a source of community power and deep cultural value. This is not to say that everyone in Bolivia, or even all the indigenous folks in Bolivia, feel this way about coca, but just to point out that there is always more to the story than one simple narrative. I hope that I will get to learn more about this when I visit next week!