Psychoactive Substances Should Be Regulated Essay

Society’s taste for psychoactive substances is attested to in the earliest human records. Drug use and abuse is as old as mankind; humans have always had an inclination towards ingesting substances that make them feel stimulated, relaxed, or euphoric. In the past, the general population has used psychoactive substances for religious and ceremonial, medicinal and recreational purposes in a socially approved way. Our forbearers refined more potent compounds and devised faster routes of administration, which made these drugs easier to consume, which began the social stigmatization attached to varying substances. The complex causation of psychoactive substance use is reflected in the frequent pendulum swings between opposing attitudes on issues that are constantly being debated. Some examples are: is substance abuse a sin or a disease? Is addiction caused by the substance, the individual s vulnerability and psychology, or social factors? Which substances should be regulated and w hich should be freely available? Why are some drugs normalized while others are deemed unacceptable? Some substances were shut out of Western society because their production and consumption served only recreational purposes that did not align with Protestant ethic values, and did not contribute to the further development of the economy. Meanwhile other drugs, mainly coffee became a necessary staple in Western society’s daily life. There are several reasons why society has come to accept caffeine (inShow MoreRelatedReaction Paper On Limitless1592 Words   |  7 Pagesthe movie Eddie comes across a substance called â€Å"NZT†. This substance turned out to be a drug that could unleash his untapped cognitive potential. Within one day of taking the pill he was able to complete the stalled book and create his formula which later allowed him to become an enigma on Wall Street. 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