A Brief Drug/Alcohol History in America

Americans discovered new wonder drugs like morphine, heroin and cocaine back in the 19th century, and ever since then our society has confronted the problem of drug abuse and addiction. A serious interest in these addictive drugs was well documented in the USA at the end of the 19th, and the beginning of the 20th century. This period is also often described as the first Drug Epidemic.

By World War II, American drug use had become so rare that it was seen as a marginal social problem, but in about a decade, at the beginning of the 1960s, drugs like marijuana, amphetamines, and psychedelics came onto the scene. By the end of the 1980s, cocaine and crack joined the drug revolution and started spreading addiction and violence among people of all ages and social circles.

Today American society suffers from many different problems, and drug problems are one of them. The DEA’s biggest challenge today is the dramatic change in organized crime that is directly connected with drug trade and trafficking on U.S. soil.

Another problem that influences American society is directly connected with alcohol. In times of cowboys and revolvers, alcohol was an obligatory attribute of every man with a gun. Today we do not all carry guns and do not ride horses as much, but we still have alcohol in our life. Alcohol’s popularity is increasing with every generation. We also see a trail of alcoholics in family lines now, and definitely consider alcoholism to be almost a predisposition in some families.

Alcohol is such a big part of American history and social life that sometimes we consider it to be a part of our very being. It looks like there is always an explanation for every heady glass of red wine during dinner, whiskey in a bar after work, a couple of beers during a baseball or football game, vodka with our Russian friends, or sake with our Japanese partners. For some reason, alcohol seems to be a perfect addition to every event, and if there is nothing to celebrate – alcohol is still a good friend to kill time.

It is really hard to say why people start drinking, but no matter the reason – there is a fine line between pleasure drinking and problem drinking, and as a rule – drinkers cross this line without even noticing. Unfortunately, awareness of the drinking problem comes too late.

“Alcoholism is a disease, but it’s the only disease you get yelled at for having.”
…………...Mitch Hedber

List of Twelve Step Groups
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_twelve-step_groups

Smart Recovery
http://www.smartrecovery.org/intro/

“Addiction”

"Alcohol and Your Brain:"
“Alcohol and Your Brain.”

"Why do some People become Alcoholics?"
“Why do some people become Alcoholics?”