Since ancient times, people have found ways to alter their perception and level of consciousness.
Starting with psychoactive herbs and finishing with stimulants, drugs are nothing new in society. However, there have always been those who abused them and became psychologically and physically dependent on those substances.
There are plenty of sociological and psychological aspects of why drug abuse and addiction have developed. And although today’s addiction treatment is as explore more here, it wasn’t always this way.
Have you ever wondered how it even happened that people discovered drugs or how did the substances develop through the centuries? If yes, let us give you a history lesson about humans and drug abuse.
Opioids in China and Mesopotamia
Opioids have been used by humankind since approximately 3,900 BC. Sumerians found that opium is helpful in pain relief and used it for medical purposes. However, soon, they discovered the psychoactive effect of this drug, and smoking opium became a social ritual. They were also the first ones to find that poppy seeds can be used to manufacture addictive substances.
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Later on, the Chinese took this custom after them. Over time, it was discovered that people could make morphine and heroin from poppy seed – both drugs started to be widely used to relieve pain. It was Chinese immigrants that contributed to the worldwide spread of opioids.
Mushrooms and Marijuana in Ancient Greece and Rome
The history of psychoactive plants reaches ancient times. Greeks and Romans were known to cherish life and celebrate social gatherings with vast amounts of alcohol. However, aside from alcohol use, religious and spiritual events were often accompanied by mushrooms and marijuana to evoke hallucinations.
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They were a significant part of the rituals. The effects on people in ancient times were as damaging as they are now, but back then, nobody took into consideration brain-altering negative side effects of the plants.
World trade and cocaine
The development of the trade has significantly contributed to overspreading drug abuse, especially in the second millennium. When America started to develop and build trading links, the conquerors discovered the drugs that locals were using.
One of them was cocaine that soon became a recreational drug causing “great contentment” and considered a cure for all the diseases. Sooner than later, the risk that coke usage carries was discovered.
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Dr. Benjamin Rush
While analysing drug abuse from the historical perspective, it’s a sin not to mention Dr. Benjamin Rush. This figure changed the view we take on addictions to psychoactive drugs and alcohol abuse and their treatment.
Dr. Benjamin Rush, a founder of the first medical school in the United States, was the first to research and explore the impact of alcohol abuse on the human brain and body and shed light on its harmful effects. The society in the 1700s highly concentrated on alcohol consumption created sobriety groups among the tribes. It was the first time in history when addiction was considered a disease, not a matter of human willpower, that later impacted how humankind perceived drug usage.
World War I
World War I was when people started to lose faith in the successful treatment of drug addiction. Morphine, heroin, opium, and cocaine were “prescribed” by military authorities and “self-prescribed” by soldiers to fight PTSD and trauma as well as for medical purposes. The fear of drug abuse was growing. From this moment, the legislation started to be more restrictive to limit access to the substances.
Psychedelic Sixties
Social and political shifts caused by the Vietnam War contributed to the growing abuse of marijuana and psychoactive substances. It was the heyday of illegal drug use, and LSD started to become a popular recreational drug. Again, the fear of widespread drug abuse began to grow.
The government’s fear over lack of control over that phenomenon contributed to intensive drug possession restrictions. The penalties and restrictions were increasing, and the government has started to put much effort into fighting the 60’s drug wave. It lasted to the ’70s when drug abuse has started to be a real national concern.
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The Bottom Line
The history of drug abuse is long and complicated. Drugs overspread around the world and became a significant part of the culture. However, through the years, drug addiction became a problem difficult to overcome. More and more people started to suffer from the adverse effects of drugs and became entirely dependent on them.
Contemporarily, drug treatment is developed. There are plenty of rehabs and places where addicts can get professional help to fight their addiction and have control over their lives again. Drug use can lead to severe mental health issues and be dangerous to human health and life, so don’t be afraid to reach professional help if you detect any addictive behaviours.
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Manchester Airport releases list of its 10 fastest-growing holiday hotspots – including ‘Maldives of Europe’
Emily Sergeant
Holiday season is well underway, and now Manchester Airport has released a list of its 10 fastest-growing beach destinations.
Want to visit somewhere new? Destinations in Portugal, Greece, and Croatia are among the 10 fastest-growing summer holiday hotspots on Manchester Airport’s route network.
Following the completion of the £1.3bn Terminal 2 transformation, and a major project to redevelop Terminal 3 also now in the works, the airport is expecting a record summer season this year, which is why, with a couple of weeks left, a list of the top 10 fastest-growing destinations has been revealed, so if you’re short of some travel inspiration, this is it.
Sunseekers’ favourites are all expected to see extra visitors from Manchester this summer, but other lesser-known destinations are seeing an even greater surge in popularity – with the number of people travelling there this summer versus last summer set to double (or even triple) in some cases.
Manchester Airport has released a list of its 10 fastest-growing holiday destinations / Credit: Marie Volkert | Northleg Official (via Unsplash)
These destinations are spread across the Mediterranean, and all offer a rich blend of sun, sea, sand, history, culture, and foodie delights.
As you’d expect, there are a number of Spanish spots on the list, including the emerging Canary Islands favourite of La Palma, Jerez de la Frontera near the historic city of Cadiz, and the popular Valencia.
Elsewhere, you’ll also find the major cities of Marseille in France, Porto in Portugal, and Verona in Italy on the list, but if you’re keen to visit somewhere a little more off the beaten track, why not try and trip to Zadar in Croatia or Preveza in Greece, which both appear to be growing in popularity.
One of the real stand-out gems on the list though has to be what is dubbed the ‘Maldives of Europe’.
Holiday season is well underway at Manchester Airport / Credit: Ivan Shimko (via Unsplash)
Albania’s capital Tirana is not only a great candidate for a city break, but it’s also the starting point for intrepid explorers seeking out the stunning beaches on the Albanian Riviera – which have become famous on social media over the past couple of years, and have drawn comparisons to the bucket list destination of the Maldives.
“Sometimes, a destination will go viral on social media or see a spike in demand as adventurous travellers discover it,” explained Stephen Turner, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport. “And we then see that translate into airlines adding extra flights or flying larger aircraft to those destinations to meet that demand.
“We keep our finger on the pulse to analyse these trends and we work with our airline partners to ensure that if a particular destination is in vogue, or emerging as a new favourite, you can get there from Manchester.”
See the full list of stunning destinations and get booking your next trip here.
Featured Image – Nick Karvounis (via Unsplash)
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SpudBros are returning to the Trafford Centre following HUGELY successful debut
Emily Sergeant
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are returning to the Trafford Centre following their hugely successful debut.
Following the ‘overwhelming’ success of their first Trafford Centre residency earlier this summer, the UK’s most-followed jacket potato creators SpudBros are returning to the iconic retail destination for a second pop-up later this month.
Shoppers will once again be able to tuck into freshly prepared, fully loaded jacket potatoes served up in minutes, all without compromising on quality, flavour, or portion size.
The SpudBros – also known as Jacob and Harley Nelson – will, once again, be returning as part of Trafford Centre‘s annual summer fair.
At the pop-up, you’ll be able to pick from fan favourites like the Tram Classic, which is loaded with garlic butter, the signature three-cheese mix, beans, crispy onions, and world-famous ‘tram’ sauce, to the Spudfather topped with chilli con carne, tuna, and coleslaw.
There’s also a range of other flavour-packed options to tuck into, alongside the option to build your own potato, allowing every customer to create their perfect lunch.
“The response to our first week at Trafford Centre was incredible, so we couldn’t be more excited to return,” commented SpudBros co-founder, Jacob Nelson.
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are launching a special pop-up at Trafford Centre this summer / Credit: The Manc Group
“Manchester has always shown us so much support online and it was amazing to finally bring SpudBros to the city. We’re looking forward to serving even more visitors and welcoming back everyone who came to see us the first time around.”
Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “SpudBros was a fantastic addition to our summer line-up and proved hugely popular with our visitors, so we’re delighted to welcome the team back for a second pop-up.”
The SpudBros pop-up will be located outside The Great Hall next week from Monday 24 to Saturday 29 August, serving signature loaded potatoes daily from 12-8pm.
The Manc -
17th February 2021 
