Humans have used drugs of one sort or another for thousands of years. The medicinal use of marijuana has been dated since 2737 B.C but not until the 19th century A.D were the active substances in the drugs extracted. Back then the new substances morphine, laudanum, and cocaine were completely unregulated and were prescribed by the physicians for a wide variety of ailments. These were available in patent medicines, and thus, by early 1900 there were an estimated more than 2,000,000 addicts in U.S.

Legal measures against drug abuse in the U.S were first established in 1875. However, at this time there were no options, such as addiction therapy. The first national drug law was the pure food and drug act of 1906, which required accurate labeling of patent medicines containing opium and certain other drugs. In 1914 the Harrison narcotic act forbade sale of substantial doses of opiates or cocaine except by licensed doctors and pharmacies. Later, heroin was totally banned. Use of the narcotics and cocaine diminished by 1920.

In 1930, most states required anti drug education in school, which was a form of addiction therapy, but fear that knowledge would lead to experimentation caused it to be abandoned in most places. In 1950, the use of marijuana increased again but in 1970s some states and localities legalized marijuana and lowered drinking ages. In the 1980s there was a decline in the use of most of drugs. Throughout the years, the public?s awareness of the dangers of specific substances changed. The surgeon general?s warning label on tobacco packaging made people aware of the addictive nature of nicotine.

The type of addiction therapy for the abuser depends upon the severity and nature of the addiction, motivation and the availability of the service. Both pharmacological and behavioral treatments are used. Some treatment programs use medicines that neutralize the effects of the drug and other programs use stabilizing medications. Acupuncture has been successful in treating the cravings that accompany cocaine withdrawal and is being used with pregnant substance abusers to improve the health of their babies.

Evaluating the effectiveness of treatment is difficult because of the chronic nature of drug abuse and alcoholism and the fact that the disease is usually complicated by personal, social and health factors.

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