Drug and Alcohol problems have plagued society for centuries.Drug and alcohol addiction and abuse cost society billions of dollars each year and an untold number of deaths. Drug and alcohol issues are a topic of conversation for millions of families each year.

The irresponsible behavior surrounding drugs, their abuse and alcohol use travels from one end of the spectrum to another. On one end, drug and alcohol manufacturers and on the other end the consumers. Unfortunately the consumers make it so easy for the manufacturer to take advantage of them, it’s as if they are almost begging to trapped by the decadence that substance abuse or drug and alcohol addiction produce.   

The drug and alcohol industry has been able to operate for centuries with no regard for any casualties caused by the irresponsible use of their products. You don't have to be a drug and alcohol counselor to know who should take responsibilty for the addiction problem.

Drug and Alcohol History

Drug and Alcohol use has been contributing to the downfall of humankind for centuries, only at first these substances were thought of as beneficial. The first recorded euphoric use of marijuana in Europe dates back to 2737 BC. Some believe Christopher Columbus brought marijuana to the Americas in 1492 but it is for certain to have arrived with the Pilgrims around 1545 and the use of hemp for various products from things like rope, fuel and nutrition was abundant. Many of our forefathers grew hemp as their primary crop.

Cocaine was first synthesized in the United States in 1855 but not until 1880   did the medical community try to capitalize on its numbing effects, even prescribing cocaine laced tooth ache drops to children. Cocaine was used in the various elixirs for numbing effects and energy boosts, often chewed by South American natives. Cocaine addiction may or may not have been known to be a problem at that time; however in present day cocaine addiction is one of the worlds monumental problems. This goes for heroin addiction as well.

Around the turn of the 20th century heroin was thought to be the world’s new miracle drug, only now to be outlawed and weighing heavily on the ills of society with a prevalent heroin addiction problem.

Many of the social elite were promoting drug and alcohol use in the early 20th century as the unknown toxic qualities were unknown or quite possibly untold, the masses fell into the trap of drug and alcohol addiction rapidly as a result during the last century.

The end of 19th century was a boom time for the drug and alcohol industry, for instance methamphetamine was first synthesized in 1887 and was a drug without a disease for a number of years until one scientist for a pharmaceutical company learned it could alleviate asthmatic conditions and allergies.  It went on to be widely as a stimulant for soldiers on both sides of WW II.

Up through the 20th century little was known about the long term effects of drug and alcohol use. Cocaine for instance was used in the popular drink Coca- Cola, hence the name. Only later, after the mind altering and addictive qualities of the chemical were known, laws were passed banning its use without medical supervision.

The use of alcohol has been around for at least 10,000 years or more with many countries adopting certain alcohol beverages as national brands, like vodka for Russia, tequila for Mexico, Bourbon for the United States etc.

The drug and alcohol industry has to its advantage the perfect scheme to make money, not reveal or take the responsibility to know any possible side effects of their product while making it addictive to us so they can make more money.  So whose responsibility is it?

Drug and Alcohol - Abuse and Addiction.

Regardless of the substance the human body is designed to function off of certain nutrients and minerals (and of course water) to survive, and has done so for thousands if not millions of years. Introducing any foreign substance into it to achieve an effect will produce certain desirable effects but as the body adjusts it can become dependent. As humans we desire to feel pleasure, and as the chemicals cause a pleasurable effect they have a high potential for dependency by the sheer nature of how the mechanics of addiction work.

The cause of drug and alcohol addiction is several fold and one must understand how they effect the body, mind and eventual spirit of any individual regardless the intent of the use. Drug and alcohol chemicals altar how we feel physically and mentally and the more we depend on them, the more we need them.

AddictionWatch.com

If you need help finding a treatment program for drug and alcohol addiction, please keep in mind not everyone has your best interest at heart.  

Most drug abuse treatment centers offer one of four types of drug rehab or alcohol rehab programs that vary in cost, length and most importantly success.

For more information about drug and alcohol addiction, please feel free to explore our website. If you have questions about your drug use or that of a loved one, please call us at 1-866-989-4499. We are here to help!