The History of Addiction All manner of substances have been used by Americans throughout our history. Colonial societies and their ancestors relied on creations of natural substances to cure ailments, relieve pain and to provide pleasure. Tobacco users were evident in their enjoyment. Alcoholic drinkers could be found in every saloon, and alcohol was served openly in homes and at social gatherings. Even opium dens of the west coast were well known, and opium could be purchased readily, free from state or federal government controls.
Whether its caffeine, nicotine, or marijuana, or cocaine drugs of choice have defined our history, bringing tragic results for the most part. The problems we see today existed in other forms and with other drugs throughout our history. The reasons for using drugs have also remained constant: to ease pain, alleviate boredom, or to expand our consciousness. Patterns of American drug use and abuse thru out history outlined the cultural, social, and political movements that impacted, or were impacted by, the use of drugs. Unquestionably our nation has had a long relationship with drugs. This bred life into the colonial economy. “Alcohol was a good creature of God. Tobacco was the enchanted herb. And cocaine, it was the miracle drug the 19th century” (Altered States: History of Drug Use In America). Drugs have been a part of America 's history from the beginning. We have benefited from their use, but have never come to terms with their abuse. Nicotine is the most addictive substance known to man. Nicotine is short acting, and you can smoke it. Nine out of every ten people who try cigarettes develop a dependence problem. It was America 's gift to the world. When 16th century explorers landed here, they encountered Native Americans smoking tobacco. “When the explorers returned to their homelands, they took their new addiction with them” (Altered States: History of Drug Use In America, [2005] Copyrite 1993). Alcohol is mainly a pleasure product in our modern society, but it was a necessity in colonial America. …show more content…
Water was very questionable because it was associated with diseases, and often it wasn 't clean, nor did it taste good. Alcohol was an import from arriving settlers. “The puritans called liquid spirits a good creature God, a dependable source for food and medicine” (Boon, 2002). Very often people added rum to the water to kill anything in the water just to make it passable. According to our text book, in 1784, Dr. Benjamin Rush issued the first medical warning to Americans that heavy, chronic use of alcohol, also known as “spirits”, could lead to mental and physical damage, even death. By then, drinking was valued for more than just food and medicine, it had become tied to the business of politics and power. Slaves were purposely given alcohol to keep them on plantations. Not surprisingly, public drunkenness was common. Americans were forced to re-evaluate alcohol, due to related illnesses and violence was rising. Eventually, this led to prohibition. Prohibition was the period in United States history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors was outlawed. It was a time characterized by speakeasies, glamor, and gangsters and a period of time in which even the average citizen broke the law. Opiates, Cocaine, and Marijuana have their place in history. Each imported from another country, opiates from
Whether its caffeine, nicotine, or marijuana, or cocaine drugs of choice have defined our history, bringing tragic results for the most part. The problems we see today existed in other forms and with other drugs throughout our history. The reasons for using drugs have also remained constant: to ease pain, alleviate boredom, or to expand our consciousness. Patterns of American drug use and abuse thru out history outlined the cultural, social, and political movements that impacted, or were impacted by, the use of drugs. Unquestionably our nation has had a long relationship with drugs. This bred life into the colonial economy. “Alcohol was a good creature of God. Tobacco was the enchanted herb. And cocaine, it was the miracle drug the 19th century” (Altered States: History of Drug Use In America). Drugs have been a part of America 's history from the beginning. We have benefited from their use, but have never come to terms with their abuse. Nicotine is the most addictive substance known to man. Nicotine is short acting, and you can smoke it. Nine out of every ten people who try cigarettes develop a dependence problem. It was America 's gift to the world. When 16th century explorers landed here, they encountered Native Americans smoking tobacco. “When the explorers returned to their homelands, they took their new addiction with them” (Altered States: History of Drug Use In America, [2005] Copyrite 1993). Alcohol is mainly a pleasure product in our modern society, but it was a necessity in colonial America. …show more content…
Water was very questionable because it was associated with diseases, and often it wasn 't clean, nor did it taste good. Alcohol was an import from arriving settlers. “The puritans called liquid spirits a good creature God, a dependable source for food and medicine” (Boon, 2002). Very often people added rum to the water to kill anything in the water just to make it passable. According to our text book, in 1784, Dr. Benjamin Rush issued the first medical warning to Americans that heavy, chronic use of alcohol, also known as “spirits”, could lead to mental and physical damage, even death. By then, drinking was valued for more than just food and medicine, it had become tied to the business of politics and power. Slaves were purposely given alcohol to keep them on plantations. Not surprisingly, public drunkenness was common. Americans were forced to re-evaluate alcohol, due to related illnesses and violence was rising. Eventually, this led to prohibition. Prohibition was the period in United States history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors was outlawed. It was a time characterized by speakeasies, glamor, and gangsters and a period of time in which even the average citizen broke the law. Opiates, Cocaine, and Marijuana have their place in history. Each imported from another country, opiates from