In what way do you Think drugs have affected American culture throughout the 20th century?

Question

I'd personally imagine drugs have greatly affected America, because references to drugs are not only present in TV, music, movies and schools, but they are also a huge concern for parents, schools, churches and the government. How did drugs become such a force in our culture?
Do you know anything about drugs through the 20th century? From the availability of drugs and alcohol for younger people in the 50's and psychedelic drugs of the 60 and 70's to the nations crack and cocaine problems of the 80's. And even now, teenagers abusing prescription pills seem to be the new trend. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Of course drugs have affected American culture. Drugs have affected and been a part of tons of cultures over the years.

The Mayans had priests who smoked and chewed Salvia Divinorum (a plant that produces intense hallucinations when smoked or chewed) to get a state of spiritual awarness, or something along those lines.

In Pakistan and northern India, the tradition of making hash goes back hundreds of years. Marijuana especially has influenced many cultures, from Morocco to Israel to central America.

In China people had been smoking opium for hundreds of years as well. It was an accepted thing in Chinese society.

Drugs have just become more available (and more varied in their availabilty) in the last century or so because of globalization, so that it seems more like a modern thing, but its not. The only truly modern thing concerning drugs, (apart from the invention of synthesized (or non-naturally occurring drugs)) is the anti-drug philosophy. That truly is new.

Theres lots of reasons of course for this new anti-drug obsession (starting in the USA and then spreading to the rest of the world). Mostly has to do with economics and the rise of the US as a world power, wielding influence over other countries and pushing a Puritan-minded agenda, which rejects and condemns use of any drug.

Personally I'm not too big on what they call "party drugs" (cocaine, extasy, etc), mainly because I'm not much of a hard-core partier, and I dont think its necessary to have a good time. I enjoy pot and hash, as well as magic mushrooms in small doses (Because of the astounding mental things that happen during a light shroom trip). Natural stuff in other words. Some drugs are just downright idiotic (like crystal meth and crack for example, that destroy your body). I've smoked opium once as well, and although the feeling is quite nice, the cravings you get afterwards are very intense, and that sort of frightens me, so I stay away from it.

And I could go on for hours dont you know, but I'm gonna stop here. Theres a small sampling of my thoughts on drugs. Hope that whats you were looking for.

Answer 2

I think the main reason drugs are still in our society is money and pleasure.

It is natural for animals to want to feel pleasure. With drugs, you can achieve this no matter what your current state of mind is. Some people are curious, others are tormented. Both want a way to escape. However, most of these drugs are extremely addictive. This means that either type of user will yearn to use again!

Money! Even though the penalties are steep for dealing drugs, people continue to do it. There are enough people who want it and you can make a lot of money in just one night. This causes drugs to continue to be available.

Drugs actually frighten me. When I was 15, I saw one of my best friends "roll" on ecstasy. She looked so gone and zombie like. Meaningless pleasure. Now, I don't condemn drug users. I don't hate them.

What scares me are the extremes: the idea of total dependence on a substance or killing another living, breathing person over a substance--mind boggling.

--edit---
I just realized I didn't really answer your question about the effect of drugs on America.

Most drugs came from study of substances in general, some of which are useful in medicine today. So I think you can't have one without the other. You can't have "good" drugs without "bad" drugs. We have to accept the evils that come with any good.