The Great Drug Revolution

Introduction - Use of psychoactive substances for recreational purposes is not a radically new social issue. In fact, history tells us that almost every society had their own pharmacopeia of herbs, potions, and substances that not only contributed to healing, but also allowed the user to escape reality (Schules 1992, 4-5). However, it is the contemporary use of psychoactive drugs purchased through illicit or illegal channels and used by persons neither prescribed nor in quantities larger than necessary that defines modern drug abuse (Robins 2006). Prior to World War I, substances like morphine, heroin, and cocaine were available in the major American cities, particularly those with active international ports. For instance, when Chinese immigrants were first imported to work in the mines and railroads during the early 1800s, they brought opium to America. It was the leisure class, who began to experiment with this drug, and, as in Europe, many major U.S. cities had so-called opium dens. In addition, there were a substantial number of "society women" who ended up addicted because their doctor prescribed this drug to deal with female histrionics or to "cure" an excessive sexual appetite (Johnson 2002). Within major cities, this problem began to spill over into other groups: prostitutes, child laborers, orphans, and even men and women of lower social classes seeking to escape the harshness of their lives (Courtwright 2002, 3-19). Between the widespread use and general

In the modern age of technological and medical advancements such as organ transplants and robotic limbs, Americans have developed unrealistic expectations about prescription drugs. The false belief that the right pill in the right dosage can cure all has led to a national epidemic: over prescription. Since the 1970s, the average American’s expenditure on prescription drugs has doubled because not only are new treatments for almost every ailment now available, but they are also aggressively advertised on television, the internet, and social media. At the same time that the American population confronts health issues associated with rising age, obesity, and stress levels, prescription drugs promise a quick fix for everything from depression to acne to insomnia leading to a one pill fix all.

Today, it is fairly common to hear about drugs and things related to drugs, but in the 1960s it wasn’t as common. A recent debate in the modern media is about marijuana, and if it should be legalized or not. We also hear about cases of people abusing different types of drugs or incidents that involve the use of drugs. The most commonly talked about drugs now are marijuana, alcohol, painkillers, cocaine, and heroine. In the 1960s, the “Summer of Love” was fueled by the most common drug at the time LSD, the want of a peaceful and loving environment, and the rise of psychedelic rock.

Did you know that in 2011, almost five people per hour dies of a drug overdose in the U.S alone? Good morning/afternoon everyone, isn’t it shocking to learn how easy it is to die of a drug overdose, yet, it seems, people in Brave New World are willing to take them in order to retain a permanent happiness holiday 24/7. Drugs both play a massive role in Brave New World and our modern society. I’m sure if I were to ask you if you knew of anyone who has ever tried drugs, I think we all would know the answer. It seems that in The World State you cannot find one person who doesn’t take drugs. Throughout this seminar we are going to see how drugs play an important role in both Brave New World and our modern day society for different reasons but also for some of the same reasons.

American Shakers in the 1820s gathered over 200 different kinds of herbs that they used to make medicines, and sold them to the public (A History of Pharmacy in Pictures, n.d., para. 27). A jungle expedition to Peru in the 1800s led to discoveries of many new substances which were imported to the United States and then used in medicines (A History of Pharmacy in Pictures, n.d., para. 34). Stanislas Limousin was an inventor who created items such as the first capsules, colour-coded poisons, and the first apparatus that gave oxygen support (A History of Pharmacy in Pictures, n.d., para. 35). The first usage of ether during surgery occurred in 1842, and the development of chloroform five years later led to less painful surgeries (Pharmaceutical Industry, 2016, para. 9). Surgeons now were able to take the time to carefully perform surgeries, which led to better healing for patients (Pharmaceutical Industry, 2016, para. 9). The first injections were administered using a hollow quill pen in the 1600s at Oxford University, but the hollow needle was not invented until 1853 (Pharmaceutical Industry, 2016, para. 12 ). The late 1800s led to the development of medications that induced sleep and fought fevers and pains (Pharmaceutical Industry, 2016, para. 14). In 1889, Aspirin was invented, and in 1900, anesthetic. The late 1800s and early 1900s saw a rise of teaching medical students about medicine in a university setting, instead of

12 million people were killed in Nazi concentration camps and millions of soldiers died along with them. Even with all of the suffering and pain there were still many new and important medical innovations. In 1932 Sulfanilamide was invented. This medicine had ability to contain infections in mice caused by streptococcal bacteria. Many different forms of this medical drugs were found and created.

During the 1970s, a drug U-47700 was created by researchers as an anesthetic, less addictive than a morphine substitute. U-47700 was eventually tossed out and discontinued. The Food and Drug Administration did not approve it for human use. Unfortunately, the patent, which included instructions on how to produce the drug, became public information (Mato, 2016). This resulted in foreign drug manufactures gaining access to the formula through academic journals and patent filings (Blau, 2016). Currently, dealers from out of the country are using the chemical recipe and selling the drug in the United States, (Mato, 2016).

At a time of improvements in society, the 20th century was a central time for scientific discoveries and enhancements. Specifically, medicine experiences a significant advancement during the 1900s. Starting out with the bare minimum, medical researchers invented life-changing technologies, which are continually used in the modern world. Without these developments, high death rates would remain prominent in society today and living conditions would still be in poor shape. Patient care, medical personnel treatment, and medical techniques greatly improved during the 1900s. Along with this, various drugs, vaccines, and procedures came into the medical field and saved many patients’ lives.

As U.S. Drug Policy has become more politicized, the number of laws for using, and possessing illegal substances has increased, and the number of those using illicit drugs has risen.  Though drug policies were created with the intent of protecting the public, a gap has developed between different groups - the “drug warriors” and the “legalizers”.  These polarizing groups advocate opposing, often politically-driven views that result in overly punitive drug penalties that are expensive, racially disparate, and totally ineffective. Consequently, movements inspiring a drug counter culture against this oppression has emerged in America and illicit drug use has increased.  By the second half of the 20th century the major importation of illegal narcotics and the drug war were just getting started.

I believe as a nation we have done well when it comes to learning from our mistakes; however, the debate over the issue of drugs in our country has truly caused turmoil throughout the nation. It is an issue that does not choose sides; rather it strikes every race, religion, and economic class across the country. We all have our beliefs about the topic of drugs in our country and how it impacts us as a whole. United States citizens believe that drugs are one of the major problems that this country is dealing with today. The belief that drugs are one of the leading contributors to elevated crime rates is what causes citizens in our country to view all drugs in a negative light. It is hard to disagree with people when you know their claims hold

Although prescription drugs are more regulated than over-the-counter medications, prescription drug addiction does still occur. This is somewhat surprising considering you'll need a prescription from a doctor, dentist, or optometrist for the medication.

“People who do drugs are evil”, “drugs are the cause of crimes”, and “all drugs harm you”. These are all said about drugs in our society, but what most people don’t know is that 81% of Americans use drugs on a daily bases for their remedies of minor ailments (consumer health care productions association).Drugs like prescription pain killers, aspirin, Tylenol, and other OTC (over-the-counter) drugs you can find almost anywhere are used every day in our society. If people see someone pull out a bottle or ibuprofen and take 4 or 5 nobody even thinks twice about it. So is our society taking advantage of the drugs available to them? And if nobody does anything about the amount of drugs Americans are using, will the society norm turn into that of the Brave New World?

President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency Thursday, ordering his administration to act in addressing addiction and opioid misuse though not providing government agencies with additional financial resources for the matter.

The two most important factors that fueled the movement toward drug regulation in the 20th century were the fact that the abuse of patent medicines and the association of drug use with minority groups. During the 20th- century “patent medicine” treat the ailments for soldiers and for women with female problems. Furthermore, patent medicine in the twentieth century included ingredients such as alcohol, opium, morphine, and cocaine. Moreover, patent medicine was not required by law for registration with agencies or the federal government or list ingredients on labels or bottles. However, patent medicine was those of traveling salesman’s, magicians or culminated with a ‘pitch man” task to convince people to buy his medicine. Originally, morphine

“Eloi are the child-like, frail group, living a banal life of ease on the surface of the earth...the Eloi have undergone significant physical and mental deterioration. Having solved all problems that required strength, intelligence, or virtue, they have slowly become dissolute and naive. They are described as being smaller than modern humans, having shoulder-length curly hair, chins that ran to a point, large eyes, small ears, and small mouths with bright red thin lips. ...They are a placid and docile race, called "human vegetables" by the Time Traveler. They lack curiosity and appear devoid of human emotion. They have historical records, but have allowed them to become dust.” H.G Wells’ prophetic description of a futuristic species of human may ring a bit truer than we would like to believe in the modern world. While there are a lot of variables that are leading us in the direction of this passive creature there is no doubt that technology is a prominent factor. The effects of advanced technology are causing more problems than they are solving in our already fragile society.