The History of Illicit Drugs

Throughout time drug and substance abuse has played a role in society.  Humans desire a feeling of relaxation, stimulation or euphoria.  Although, there are many other ways to seek out these feelings, if a substance can be ingested, or inhaled to quicken the process it is consistently sought after.  The origins of many substances have been recorded as far back as 5000 BC.  Most of the substances dating that far back were, however, strictly herbal in form and not altered.

Opium

Opium has been believed to be dated as far back as the Neolithic period (which is considered the end of the Stone Age).  Within what we now consider Switzerland, historians have documented this being the first place civilization cultivated, recognized and utilized the narcotic properties of the poppy plant.  Third-century B.C., Greek culture had discovered the extracted fluid created a highly powerful drug – which would become known as opium.  Within opium lie several key substances, one of which was isolated 1806 and named the morphine, after the Greek god Morpheus. Later, Codeine and Papaverine were also isolated by trailblazing scientist of that century.  The 19th century Immigrants from China – who came to work predominantly on the country's new railroad system – brought opium with them when they arrived.  During the Civil War men were treated with opium. Ironically, many doctors during this period actually prescribed morphine as a remedy for opium addiction!

Cannabis and Hemp

Hemp was believed to have been woven into the first fabrics during 7000BCE.  Around 6000 BCE in China, Hemp seeds began to be utilized in food.  During 2727 BCE, the Chinese documented the use of the medical properties of Marijuana.  Throughout the ages from then on, hemp and Cannabis, along with cultivating it for fabric was considered an offering to the dead, and was named as one of five “Sacred Grasses” of India.  Many Muslims indulged in the effects of Marijuana, as there religions do not allow the consumption of alcohol.  It was considered to be such a useful crop that early Jamestown settlers in 1607 began its cultivation and later, in Virginia, farmers were fined for not growing hemp.  The popularity decline of Cannabis began with Napoleon.  He banned the substance in 1798.  In 1928 the recreation use of Cannabis was banned in Britain. In 1936 a propaganda film was created by the US government to scare citizens of the effects of Marijuana it was called “Reefer Madness” and in 1937 Marijuana was federally banned in the US.   In June of 2003 Canada is the First Country in the world to offer medical marijuana to its patients and there are currently under 500 patients in Canada that receive this benefit.

PCP

The dissociative drug PCP was developed in 1926 and patented in 1952 by the Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company.  Originally, it was used as an anesthetic on animals and later was tested on humans as a sedative before surgeries.  The side effects of the drug were later determined to be too great for the actual effectiveness of the drug.  The side effects included jumbled speech, delirium, disoriented behavior, agitation, and hallucinations.  PCP, as a recreational drug grew in popularity in the 1960’s through the 1970’s.  This drug lost its popularity during the 1970’s, and therefore is now mostly found as an additive in other drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy.