Drug_Culture_In_History

Drug Culture In History The drug culture as it is known today incorporates countless numbers of drugs as well as their uses and cultural meanings. From ancient spirits spreading through religion to modern-day psychopharmacological agents such as Valium and Prozac advertised through mainstream media, drugs have infused nearly every culture of the world in every era of civilization. Psychoactive substances elicit pleasurable responses in their users that serve as natural incentives for continued use. Such a natural product had unprecedented potential for profitability. The commodification of drugs, both illicit and licit, follows the principles of capitalism and supply-and-demand. David Courtwright has summarized drug use throughout world history in his book, Forces of Habit. Courtwright described the “big three” and the “little three” drugs of all time. The “big three” drugs: alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine as well as the “little three” drugs: opium, cannabis, and coca have all been commodified, some with more success than others. The first of the “big three,” alcohol was first discovered around 5000 B.C. and by 1500 B.C., was commercially produced throughout medieval Europe and Russia by way of Orthodoxy from Greece in the form of wine. One reason wine was so popular was because, in most cases, it courtwright, three, opium, marijuana, europe, became, world, tobacco, drugs, drug, due, cocaine, alcohol, spread, culture, coca, big, making, first, caffeine, through, popular, effects, coffee, today, time, people, one, morphine, little, global, even, complex, america, always, addictive