Chapter 2: Historical Perspectives
3 main themes:
• Ambivalence: as to the role of intoxicants in society and the pleasure and pain associated w/
their use. This has Changed over time. The combo of heavy alcohol or drug use coupled with
strict social control policies reflect this theme.
• Reactions to Drugs across time: different reactions to the same thing over time is when a
health inducing drug of one period is banned as a dangerous substance in another period
• Rising Potency of Drugs: correlates to when drugs are banned. In the 1920s when sale of
alcohol was banned, ppl turned to spirits.
Histonical Perspectives:
• All drugs seem to be somewhat glorified and vilified throughout
across Cultures.
• Problems with drugs today is not a new concept.
• Before there was misuse there was use of all kinds of intoxicants, derived mostly from plants
ex: Aztecs using cacti & mushrooms to hallucinate to give courage for battle. Aztecs also had
400 gods of drink and drunkenness as a way of escape.
• banned drug use tends to be associated w/ "bad people"
When supply Of drugs is reduced
, Street value is increased Causing
Ppl to turn to cheaper more harmful drugs
• Sentencing for drug use used to carry racial themes as well
Earn Use i Misuse of Intoxicants
• early civilizations soldiers given alcohol along with their weapons & food, Egyptian drs
prescribing beer & wine, Beer bring used to pay wages
• Religions condoned dunking, but did not support drunkenness. (Religions control)
• in 1600s tobacco was permanent commodity among all classes
• Catawba tribe leader pleaded Colonists to stop Supplying spirits to his ppl
The European Context
• Before water purification, alcohol was safer
• In 1854 opium was prescribed for everyday maladies
• 18th century 1st signs of drug trafficking. British illegally smuggling opium to China to trade
tears.
• Tech advances: Distilled practices changed to make alcohol stronger & German scientists
extract cocaine from cocoa bush.
• Infant mortality & child starvation prevented population growth (neglectful
Mothers due to gin epidemic)
• Crimes of violence and immorality rises among all Classes (most common in poor)
• employers start to enforce sober workforce
- Colonial America
• Colonists settling in America, including Puritans, seen alcohol as a blessing & good healthy
beverage. Drinking was accepted as long as social norm followed
• Native Americans treated alcohol as hallucinogens & tobacco & struggled with moderation.
Alcohol was accepted within their culture context
• heavy drinking posed as a major problem in American Indians then & now
3 main themes:
• Ambivalence: as to the role of intoxicants in society and the pleasure and pain associated w/
their use. This has Changed over time. The combo of heavy alcohol or drug use coupled with
strict social control policies reflect this theme.
• Reactions to Drugs across time: different reactions to the same thing over time is when a
health inducing drug of one period is banned as a dangerous substance in another period
• Rising Potency of Drugs: correlates to when drugs are banned. In the 1920s when sale of
alcohol was banned, ppl turned to spirits.
Histonical Perspectives:
• All drugs seem to be somewhat glorified and vilified throughout
across Cultures.
• Problems with drugs today is not a new concept.
• Before there was misuse there was use of all kinds of intoxicants, derived mostly from plants
ex: Aztecs using cacti & mushrooms to hallucinate to give courage for battle. Aztecs also had
400 gods of drink and drunkenness as a way of escape.
• banned drug use tends to be associated w/ "bad people"
When supply Of drugs is reduced
, Street value is increased Causing
Ppl to turn to cheaper more harmful drugs
• Sentencing for drug use used to carry racial themes as well
Earn Use i Misuse of Intoxicants
• early civilizations soldiers given alcohol along with their weapons & food, Egyptian drs
prescribing beer & wine, Beer bring used to pay wages
• Religions condoned dunking, but did not support drunkenness. (Religions control)
• in 1600s tobacco was permanent commodity among all classes
• Catawba tribe leader pleaded Colonists to stop Supplying spirits to his ppl
The European Context
• Before water purification, alcohol was safer
• In 1854 opium was prescribed for everyday maladies
• 18th century 1st signs of drug trafficking. British illegally smuggling opium to China to trade
tears.
• Tech advances: Distilled practices changed to make alcohol stronger & German scientists
extract cocaine from cocoa bush.
• Infant mortality & child starvation prevented population growth (neglectful
Mothers due to gin epidemic)
• Crimes of violence and immorality rises among all Classes (most common in poor)
• employers start to enforce sober workforce
- Colonial America
• Colonists settling in America, including Puritans, seen alcohol as a blessing & good healthy
beverage. Drinking was accepted as long as social norm followed
• Native Americans treated alcohol as hallucinogens & tobacco & struggled with moderation.
Alcohol was accepted within their culture context
• heavy drinking posed as a major problem in American Indians then & now
