Drug Abuse History
Over the last two centuries, the perception of drug problems has changed drastically. The Americans have moved from acceptance to rejection of drugs in the society, which explain the current reactions to drug use. Even though the 1990s played a major role in the propagation of new drugs in the market, the 1960s was notorious in abusing drugs. The abuse of drugs among the youths during this period was high.
In the 1800s, opium addiction was a major health concern in China. It was a threat that led to the formation of tight legislation to curb the problem. Notably, opium use later spread to Britain and other countries in Europe (Lyman 39-40). The advancements of chemistry during this period is responsible for the development and widespread of opium and other new drugs. At this time, different forms of cocaine and opium were prevalent in the United States. The constitution allowed individual states to come up with health-related laws that included the regulation of pharmaceutical drugs. As a result, many states across the US decided not to put control at all. For this reason, there was viral advertisements and unbridled availability of drugs throughout the United States.
However, in the 1960s was a period of notorious use of drugs. There was increased tolerance in most illegal drugs that lead to unconventional behaviors among the youths. Precisely, people perceived drugs as a positive thing with drug abuse reaching a large youth audience. This explains why many United States soldiers became drug addicts during the Vietnam Civil War. Even though media attention drugs changed in the late 20th century, drug use did not. The period was characterized by the recreational use of marijuana and other new drugs. Undoubtedly, the trend has continued into the 21st century.
Works Cited
Lyman, Michael D. Drugs in society: Causes, concepts, and control. Routledge, 2013.