The United States has a long history of drug abuse. Although the drugs that are most commonly abused in any generation change with the years, it is not a new problem. Generations upon generations have been affected by this problem. While lawmakers have proposed and passed legislation to reduce drug abuse, it is a fact that illicit use of substances is still a problem.
Until the first decade of the twentieth century, tobacco use was usually confined to smoking in pipes and cigars, chewing, and inhaling snuff. The cigarettes that we see today began to appear in the late nineteenth century, gaining wide popularity some twenty years later.
The use of drug and the abuse of it started from the very beginning of the united states but it wasn’t as destructive and wide spread as we know of it today. Back then, doctors would use drugs such as opium, alcohol and cocaine for medical purposes to dull the effect of some health problems. The addictive qualities of the drugs were not fully understood before the Civil War so many soldiers were given opium to dull pain during surgery and became addicted to the drug. During the 1800s, developments in medicine led to the creation of morphine, codeine and cocaine but the drugs were unregulated and readily available. When it was discovered that the drugs were a serious problem, regulations were developed and laws were made to help contain the problem and make it harder to obtain.
Despite all the laws and regulations that were passed to prohibit and restrict the procession and use of illicit drugs, like a cancer that just won’t go away, many drugs are still in circulation and younger Americans now have increasingly easier access to "black market" marihuana, cocaine, prescription drugs, and animal tranquilizers. Alcohol remained available during its Prohibition because of the demand for it. People still got drunk, still became alcoholics, and still suffered delirium tremens. Drunken drivers remained a frequent menace on the highways. During the years of alcohol prohibition, marihuana use gained popularity and it has become legalized in some states today.
The demand for these drugs did not diminish even though the government tried to eradicate these dangerous substances from the society. People kept asking for it and today, the younger generations have felt the impact most. Families have been torn apart, the rate of suicide has skyrocketed, many crimes and abuses have been traced back to the influence and use of these drugs, diseases such as cancer, aids and many more have eaten into the fabric of the American society due to these drugs.
What was once thought to be a medical treatment back in the beginning has now become so destructive and hard to curtail. However, many rehabilitation centers have been created to provide treatment for many users and addict of these drugs and some level of success have been recorded. Nevertheless, the fight against drug abuse and addiction is still an ongoing battle. The question still remains, what is the lasting solution to these destruction and who can find it?
http://aforeverrecovery.com/blog/drug-abuse/the-history-of-drug-abuse-in-the-united-states/
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/history/casey1.htm
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