Running head: DEPRESSANTS AND STIMULANTS – HISTORICAL ANALYSIS Depressants and Stimulants – Historical Analysis January 18, 2008 Depressants and Stimulants – Historical Analysis Almost every American citizen has at some point of his or her life consumed at least one consciousness-altering drug. Many Americans are now taking anti-depressants, steroids, stimulants, and other psychoactive medications prescribed by physicians and consumed daily by thousands and millions of people. Many children are now taking Ritalin, chronically depressed are taking Prozac and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Ginko biloba for memory enhancement, to mention a few. The use of psychoactive drugs, depressants and stimulants seem to be constant in the United States history, however, changing attitude to drug intake and variations in the perception of drug use tell a lot about changing nature of American culture and American society. The history of depressants and stimulants use in the United States can be virtually documented in three time periods. During the first period, 1860-1910, opioids were relatively widely used as antianxiety drugs and pain medications. In 1874 heroin was synthesized in Germany and was marketed as a wonder drug free from addiction-forming properties.
(A History Of Drug Use) In 1884 Sigmund Freud treated depression with cocaine and stimulants were considered a substance able to make miracles instead of something to be feared and avoided. Soon enough, by 1900, approximately 300,000 Americans became addicted to heroin and opioids (Part A: Questions and Answers Regarding the History and Evolution of Methadone Treatment of Opioid Addiction in the United States).
The Essay on Sociological Analysis of Racism American History X
Racism being a common concern for most sociologists is somewhat inevitable and a cause for a large proportion of the problems that occur in the society. American History X (1998) is a film that tells a rather heartrending tale of two brothers that got caught in a ghastly web of bitterness and hatred. Although racism is openly practiced, it isn’t entirely irreversible. The process of escaping from ...
In 1909 American government realized the danger of drug use and increasing drug dependency and prohibited opiates import. In 1912 the 1st Opium Convention was held to invent measures for opium trade control. Finally, in 1917 national prohibition was endorsed by the president of the American Medical Association followed by prohibition of alcohol use (1920-1933), making cigarettes illegal in 14 states (1921), prohibition of heroin manufacture (1924), etc. By 1950 society has understood that stimulants and depressants are certainly dangerous and habit-forming medications.
In 1956 The Narcotics Control Act was enacted, according to which the sale of heroin to “a person under eighteen by one over eighteen was persecuted by the death penalty (A History Of Drug Use).
In 1966 the Narcotics Addict Rehabilitation Act was enacted by the Congress, under which addicts were offered a federal civil commitment program. In 1966 it was declared that LSD is “the greatest threat facing the country today… more dangerous than the Vietnam War. (A History Of Drug Use) and one year later, in 1967, Narcotics Addiction Control Program was enacted. Under Narcotics Addiction Control Program in New York, the judges had power to force addicts to undergo a compulsory treatment for up to five years.
Although stimulants and depressants use no longer was considered as a safe way of treatment with drugs free from addiction-forming properties, tobacco use became very popular. According to the statistics, in 1967 over $250 million was spent on advertising smoking and the American tobacco industry has reported gross sales of over $8 billion (A History Of Drug Use).
During 1970-s America has realized that the government should undertake additional, more powerful measures to combat drug use. In 1970, the U.S. government has passed the Controlled Substances Act. The President of the United States, Nixon, has declared that “America’s Public Enemy No.
The Term Paper on A history of American sexuality
There is little to dispute the notion that rebellious movements only originate as a need, not as a result of human nature. It would indeed be appropriate to view the various cultures of resistance that have developed over the ages in light of this ideology; every era saw a different need and hence developed and shaped itself through their individual’s sexual meaning (D’emilio and Freedman ...
1 is drug abuse” and asks the U.S. Congress to create a Special Action Office of drug abuse Prevention (A History Of Drug Use).
In 1972 the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs calls for restriction of the use of barbiturates and barbiturate-related medications arguing that these drugs are even more harmful than heroin. During the same year $1 billion voted for drug fight. (A History Of Drug Use) In 1977 President Nixon in his attempts to combat illegal drug use, requires to check all vehicles returning from Mexico to stop drug traffic. During 1976-1992, there was a marijuana decriminalization movement.
During 1985-1986 the American society was disturbed with crack-related problems (cocaine deaths – Dan Rodgers, Len Bias) (Historical Overview of Drug use in America (and around the world)).
In 1986 Reagan announced nationwide crusade against drugs and Anti-drug Abuse Act of 1986 under which there were no longer distinctions between soft and hard drugs. During the same year Analog Drug Act was enacted. By 1989 64% of Americans called drug abuse number one problem. (Historical Overview of Drug use in America (and around the world)) During 1992-2000, under Bill Clinton’s presidency, illicit drug use has increased, however, the government continued attempts to combat drug use (e.g., ADAMHA Reorganization in 1992, the decision to increase federal anti-drug budget significantly ($18.5 billion in 2000 vs. $1.5 billion in 1989, etc.) (Historical Overview of Drug use in America (and around the world)) and all these successful attempts prove that with all these efforts to stop the use of illicit drugs there will be a drug-free future for the U.S.
nation. References A History Of Drug Use. (n.d.).
Retrieved january 18, 2009, from http://www.lectlaw.com/files/drg09.htm Historical Overview of Drug use in America (and around the world).
(n.d.).
Retrieved January 18, 2009, from http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/180/drughistory.htm Part A: Questions and Answers Regarding the History and Evolution of Methadone Treatment of Opioid Addiction in the United States.
The Essay on An Overview of Australia’s History
The first Europeans to find Australia were Dutch and Spanish seafarers that arrived in Australia sometime during the 1600-hundreds, but they weren't the first people except the aboriginals who had come to Australia. Chinese sailors had visited it in the 1200-hundreds. The Dutch and Spanish seafarers thought that it was part of an undiscovered continent - "a Great South land". They didn't explore ...
(n.d.).
Retrieved January 18, 2009, from http://international.drugabuse.gov/collaboration/g uide_methadone/parta_question2.html.
