Shocking vintage ads glamorize unbelievable horrors (PHOTOS)

Ivory cocaine spoon necklaces, gold razors and more.

The world and social norms have changed over the years, as have medical and scientific advances. Over time, certain things have been outlawed, such as casual drug abuse, public smoking and more. Take a look at a great example of how times have changed with the following drug-praising advertisements from the 70's.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Adweek shared several "shameless cocaine ads" that prove life in the 70's was a "hell of a time to be alive," but was it really?

As the years go by, the medical community has helped improve the lives of billions around the world. In 1986 it was discovered that smoking - as well as second-hand smoke - caused cancer, while it has been more recently highlighted that women who were addicted to opiods during pregnancy gave birth to drug-addicted newborns who suffer withdrawal symptoms during their first few years of life.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cocaine is extremely addictive, which studies have shown can lead to panic attacks, paranoia and psychosis. 

The NIDA website says: "With increasing dosages or frequency of use, the risk of adverse psychological or physiological effects increases ... Regularly snorting cocaine ... can lead to loss of sense of smell; nosebleeds; problems with swallowing; hoarseness; and an overall irritation of the nasal septum, which could result in a chronically inflamed, runny nose.

"Ingested cocaine can cause severe bowel gangrene, due to reduced blood flow. Persons who inject cocaine ... may experience allergic reactions, either to the drug or to some additive in street cocaine, while in severe cases can result in death. Many chronic cocaine users lose their appetite and experience significant weight loss and malnourishment."

The National Institute on Drug abuse website clarifies that cocaine can produce "short-term euphoria, energy, and talkativeness in addition to potentially dangerous physical effects like raising heart rate and blood pressure."

It specifies that "cocaine can cause long-term changes in the brain's reward system as well as other brain systems, which may lead to addiction ... It constricts blood vessels, dilates pupils, and increases body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. It can also cause headaches and gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain and nausea.

"Most seriously, people who use cocaine can suffer heart attacks or strokes, which may cause sudden death ... People who use cocaine also put themselves at risk for contracting HIV, even if they do not share needles or other drug paraphernalia. This is because cocaine intoxication impairs judgment and can lead to risky sexual behavior.

"Cocaine is more dangerous when combined with other drugs or alcohol. For example, the combination of cocaine and heroin carries a particularly high risk of fatal overdose."

Despite these ads glamorizing drug use, it is clear that cocaine is an extremely addictive and harmful substance. Though it is outlawed, The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated 1.9 million current cocaine users in the United States.

More images of vintage advertisements for cocaine can be found at The Worlds Best Ever.

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