ABSTRACT
Substance use dates back thousand of years, and records of ancient civilisations provide evidence of the use of alcohol and plants with psychoactive properties. From the earliest times, alcohol and drugs have been used for medicinal, religious, cultural and recreational purposes and as a social lubricant. The use of alcohol and drugs throughout history helps us to understand the distinctive nature of psychoactive substances in today’s society and the changes in the use and misuse of alcohol and drug.
