Chapter 1 – History Chapter Overview The first part of this chapter provides a historical survey of the pharmacologic and political influences on the use of psychoactive substances and compulsive behaviors in all civilizations. The second part presents a system for classifying these psychoactive substances along with major legislation impacting use of drugs and treatment of addictions. Throughout the last 10,000 years, humans have used psychoactive drugs to alter their perception of reality for a variety of reasons. By studying the history of drug use and abuse, a number of historical themes become apparent. 1. There is a basic need of human beings to cope with their environment and enhance their existence. 2. Human brain chemistry can be affected by psychoactive drugs, behavioral addictions, and mental illness to induce an altered state of consciousness. 3. The ruling classes, governments, and businesses have always been involved in trying to control the drug trade, often using it as a source of revenue through trade and taxes. 4. Technological advances in refining, synthesizing, and manufacturing psychoactive drugs have increased their potency and abuse liability. 5. Users and researchers have discovered new ways of taking drugs so they reach the brain faster, thus increasing their abuse liability. For example, opium was used originally for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Once people discovered that opium created mental effects because of the way it manipulated the brain's own natural chemicals especially endorphins, the body's own painkillers, they used it to change their mental/emotional state. Legal, social, and health problems multiplied after people began to smoke it, when it became a lucrative source of income for governments and trading companies, when it was refined to the stronger morphine and heroin and when it could be delivered directly into the bloodstream using a hypodermic needle. The discovery of psychoactive plants (opium poppy, coca bush, coffee bean, Cannabis, and the tobacco plant) and the subsequent synthesis of hundreds of other psychoactive substances, has led to a medicine chest full drugs, most useful and some desirable but all causing problems when abused. Today alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, opioids (especially prescription drugs), crystal meth, and ecstasy are the most widely used drugs. The recent development of synthetic marijuana sold as “herbal incense” and synthetic stimulants sold as “bath salts” represent a great potential for a renewed proliferation of traditionally dangerous “designer drugs.” Behavioral addictions (gambling, internet, shopping, sex, compulsive eating disorder) are now formally recognized as addictions that affect the same natural brain chemicals and neural pathways as addictive substances. The popularity of abusing specific psychoactive substances is cyclical; cocaine in the 1880s, the 1910s and '20s, and the 1970s to '80s; opiates, beginning thousands of years ago and continuing through numerous cycles to the present. By viewing these cycles and the themes of drug use through the lens of history, we can understand the enormous influence psychoactive drugs had on the development of civilizations. CLASSIFICATION Psychoactive drugs include those substances that affect the central nervous system. This book classifies drugs according to their effects: stimulants (uppers), depressants (downers), and 2 psychedelics (all arounders). Other groups of drugs include inhalants, sports drugs (e.g., anabolic 3 steroids), and psychiatric medications such as Haldol® and Prozac®. Also included are compulsive behaviors (e.g., gambling, eating disorders, etc.) that can be acted out in an addictive manner. Chapter 1 – History Outline INTRODUCTION I. FIVE HISTORICAL THEMES OF DRUG USE 1. Human need to cope with the environment 2. A susceptible brain chemistry 3. Business & government involvement 4. Technological advances in making drugs 5. More efficient methods of putting drugs into the body HISTORY OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS II. PREHISTORY & THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD (8500–4000 B.C.) III. ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS (4000 B.C.A.D. 400) A. Alcohol B. Opium C. Cannabis (Marijuana) D. Mescal Bean, San Pedro & Peyote Cacti (Mescaline) In Mesoamerica E. Psychedelic Mushrooms in India, Siberia, & Mesoamerica F. Tobacco & Coca Leaf in Mesoamerica IV. MIDDLE AGES (400–1400) A. Psychedelic “Hexing Herbs” B. Psychedelic Mold-Ergot (St. Anthony’s Fire) C. From Medicine, to Psychoactive Drug, To Poison D. Alcohol & Distillation E. Islamic Substitutes for Alcohol F. Coffee, Tea & Chocolate (Caffeine) V. RENAISSANCE & THE AGE OF DISCOVERY (1400–1700) A. Alcohol B. Coca & the Conquistadors C. Tobacco Crosses the Oceans D. Coffee & Tea Consumption Spreads E. Opium Returns VI. THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT & THE EARLY INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION(1700– 1900) A. Distilled Liquors & The Gin Epidemic B. Tobacco, Hemp, & The American Revolution C. Ether, Nitrous Oxide, Other Anesthetics, & Other Inhalants D. Opium to Morphine To Heroin 1. Opium Smoking 2. Morphing 3. Hypodermic Needle 4. Heroin 5. Opium Wars E. From Coca to Cocain