Chasing the Dragon

Need origin, if anyone knows it, please let me know!

Thanks!

I've heard it refered to as free basing cocaine.

The phrase refers to heating cocain and breathing the fumes (as I am sure
you all knew!). So as cocain when heated gives off white smoke perhaps the
origin is in chasing the white wispy smoke or because cocain originally
came from the East. Maybe someone else knows more?

Maybe it refers to a "fire-breathing dragon"?