ABSTRACT
Substance abuse has been a mainstay of society for the past few millennia. Epidemics come and go in somewhat predictable cycles and the problem has never been resolved. Over the past century, as this cyclic equilibrium has shifted, the magnitude of the problem has generally intensified. The number of euphoric substances has grown and their enhanced distribution has increased abuse. Technology has increased the potency of euphoric compounds, i.e., the synthesis of natural opium to heroin and the
de novo
synthesis of non-natural substances such as PCP, LSD, MDMA, and others. Cocaine has been concentrated and modified from the coca plant to produce freebase and crack cocaine. Improvement in horticulture techniques has increased the content of marijuana to 10 to 15% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
