depreciation & depuration of drugs on individuals, families and society

Introduction to Drug Abuse

Drug abuse has turned to be a world’s major health concern and has reached epidemic proportions throughout society. Consequently, a drug could be defined as any substance other than food which by its chemical or physical nature alters the structure or functions in the living organism. Humankind’s has checkered and often ambivalent relationship with psychoactive plants and drugs. During the early years of history, the role of the opium poppy in ancient Mesopotamia and the ergot-based mystery cult of Eleusis, through the opium wars in China and the persecution of medieval herbalist witches, up to the 'psychedelic rebellion' of the sixties and the insanities of the current 'war on drugs,' it is very surprising that drugs abuse has come a long way throughout time in history.
When drug abuse is discussed, one often fails to mention the vast contributions of medical research which resulted in the vast discovery of various drugs and antibiotics t...