Why not medicinal cocaine or medicinal heroin? People hide behind legalization just to get high. Stoners! To dispuite the above statements. A. Cocaine is used in medicine as a numbing agent B. Heroin is precribed in Europe as an analgesic, cough suppresant, and anesthetic. Although these drugs have been generally replaced by less addictive and safer alternatives in modern medicine, they still hold important positions in medicine for certain patients and other parts of the world where not all medicines are readily available and affordable.. Many drugs, prescription or not, are addictive and habit forming, but that does not mean they should be banned or considered illicit. Every drug has a purpose and when used responsibly, is an important part of keeping this world healthy.