Roots: An Essay About Drugs

I

Drugs have a long history, contrary to what people believe. Drugs have been around since the first civilizations began. People have not only used drugs to heal, or for pleasure, but also for ceremonial purposes. The ancient world had primitive but sufficient ways of producing drugs, and used them effectively. Because of their beliefs religiously, they used their drugs sparingly and in moderation. Therefore it was rare to see someone addicted to a dangerous drug.

The ancient Egyptian kingdoms survived for a total of about 2000 years from 3100 to 1100 B.C. They were known to have first created beer, the world's oldest psychoactive drug. It's history varies throughout the ages, and it was very popular during the Middle Ages, when the first "beer festivals" were celebrated. (All statistical information is from The Origins & Sources of Drugs: see bibliography)

Wine is the oldest alcoholic beverage, probably first discovered when primitive men tasted fermented berries, the juice of which contained no more than 12% alcohol. The earliest date at which wine is known to have existed is 2285 B.C. in ancient China. In medieval times, wine was drunk primarily by monks and nuns. Monks were allowed to drink 7 liters of wine per day, while the nuns were only allowed 5 liters. It is extremely popular all over the world today.

Coffee and tea, although not usually looked on as drugs, contain a stimulant drug known as caffeine. The Chinese produced the first tea which dates back to around 2000 B.C. Coffee was launched when coffee beans were discovered in Ethiopia as early as 850 C.E. It is extremely popular with Muslims, because their religion forbids wine and other alcoholic beverages.

The poppy plant which is the source of opium, heroin, and morphine is extremely addictive. It first was introduced around 4000 B.C. by ancient Sumerians who probably used it as a healing agent. The Greeks were the first people to use it for recreational purposes, but along with the Romans, they too used it as a medicine. Opium was popular in China, and first came to the United States by way of Chinese immigrants. The British loved the opium they received from Chinese trade, and when the Chinese announced their intention of banning it's production, the British were highly opposed. The two nations fought a few brief battles over this matter between 1839 and 1842 A.D. called the "Opium Wars".

Hallucinogens have been used by many cultures throughout history, and evidence suggests that it was used by Aztecs, Zapotecans, Native Americans, and Haitians. These people however used hallucinogens mostly for religious and healing purposes.

Drugs have been used throughout the history of man, and have survived despite the battles, wars, bans, laws and protests against them. Their roots dig back to the dawn of man, and are so intertwined that it has proved impossible to trace all of their developments and distributions.

II

Today in the United States of America, the word "drugs" frightens most people. They tend to think of all of the negative things that give drugs a bad name: deaths, suicides, murders, greediness, addiction, etc. They neglect the good things they've done for people, like saving lives, and improving health. It's because of these beliefs that helpful drugs such as cocaine have been banned. When people attempt to stop drugs in America, they tend to use feeble ways such as billboards and commercials. How many people see a "drug free America" billboard and reflect quietly to themselves, "You know, I'm really going to do something about drugs." Probably not very many. I did not say that those types of people don't exist, they just aren't too common. And when one thinks about it, don't those "this is your brain on drugs" commercials get more sarcasm and scorn than glory?

What America's survival boils down to is morals, and the teachers of morals: parents. I think that people should hold parents more responsible than anyone else. It is their job not only to provide for their child/children, but to teach them and prepare them for the rest of their lives out in that frightening jungle that we call the world. Parents should rear children, not the world. If the parents do not care, like too many today, then the second in line is the child's teachers. The DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) in schools helps prevent the children from taking drugs, but unfortunately it is only applied in some schools, and in certain grades. Even when the DARE program is practiced, the class is only held once or twice a month.

Drugs have always been around, and always will be, no matter how much people may try to annihilate them. It's high time to give up and attempt the second best thing next to obliteration: to take the responsibility upon, you and ensure that the people you are responsible for do not fall into the deathly grip of dangerous drugs. As soon as the first drugs were created, our ancestors realized the dangers and did the best they could to teach their offspring to use drugs for their intended purposes such as religious practices and medical remedies. Today's world, so wrapped up in other problems, have slackened off on this duty bestowed upon them.

Bibliography

Abadinsky, Howard. "Drug Trafficking." The Software Toolworks Illustrated Encyclopedia. 1991 ed.

Theodore, Alan. The Origins & Sources of Drugs. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988.