Drug History

Many people, though fully acquainted with most illicit drugs, have had no idea their origins. Some drugs are made from plants that grow naturally such as marijuana. Others are synthesized in labs, for example LSD. In this section we will discuss not only the origin of many popular drugs but also their historical uses. Drugs such as cocaine were at one time legal and could be purchased by anyone. Today, we know that is not the case.

The history of drugs is an interesting one. Not only does it give individuals a certain perspective on a particular substance but it is also fascinating to learn that some of drugs which we view as potent and dangerous today were used wholesale and widely in many communities. Individuals will be able to see how a drug goes from acceptance and being viewed as generally benign to being maligned and eventually made illegal. The drug histories we will take a closer look at include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD and amphetamine.

Marijuana

Marijuana has been utilized for one purpose or another, for thousands of year. People have eaten it, smoked it and even used it as fabric, rope and fuel. At one time it was legal to possess and use it in the United States but it would eventually become a target of the ‘war against drugs’. Between 7000 BC and 8000 BC, individuals used marijuana plants to make fabrics. 1000 years later, the seeds of those plants were consumed as food by the Chinese. They wo...

Cocaine

Cocoa leaves of cocoa plants have been chewed for thousands of years for medical, recreational, mystical and religious reasons. Cocoa plants have historically been prized in their native lands because they do not require irrigation and are able to withstand disease and drought. Much of the cocaine sold in the United States and in other places throughout the world comes from South America. It is a huge cash crop for these countries. Albert Newman, a ch...

Heroin

Heroin is an opiate derived from the poppy plant. It is a very dangerous and addictive drug, as well as one of the most abused, illicit substances in the United States. Individuals who abuse heroin are at risk of developing a number of health related issues, for example, collapsed veins, kidney and liver damage and disease as well as pulmonary problems. The transmission of Hepatitis C and HIV is also a risk for those users or addicts that use needles, which they share with...

LSD

Dr. Albert Hofmann is the gentleman responsible for synthesizing LSD. He did so in 1938 working as a chemist for a laboratory in Switzerland. LSD was initially developed to be a stimulant for the respiratory and circulatory systems. However, after researches were unable to definitively determine LSD’s usefulness for such related ailments or for any condition at all, they gave up on it, for a time at least. However, eventually, LSD would be used again. This time...

Amphetamine

Amphetamines were first prescribed to individuals who suffered from asthma, nasal congestion, colds and hay fever. Synthesized in 1887 by Smith, Kline and French, a drug company, it wasn’t until 40 years later that the drug was given for the aforementioned medical conditions. In 1935, it began to be prescribed to individuals who suffered from narcolepsy, a sleep disorder condition that causes sufferers to suddenly fall asleep without warning. Later it would be given ...

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Ecstasy

Ketamine

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Drug History

Marijuana

Cocaine

Heroin

LSD

Amphetamine

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