Scientists Discover Humans Were Using Drugs 25,000 Years Ago
Humans may have been using psychoactive substances as far back as 25,000 years ago, long before the emergence of farming, … Read More The post Scientists Discover Humans Were Using Drugs 25,000 Years Ago appeared first on ProPakistani .
Scientists have uncovered what they believe is the earliest direct evidence of humans consuming psychoactive drugs, dating back 25,000 years ago on Indonesia's Sulawesi island. The discovery was made by examining the teeth of two prehistoric hunter-gatherers who lived thousands of years apart - one between 16,000 and 25,000 years ago, and the other around 6,300 to 7,600 years ago.
Unusually deep, rounded grooves on the teeth suggest the individuals repeatedly held and sucked on hard, round objects. Further analysis revealed the presence of arecoline, the main psychoactive compound found in betel nuts. Researchers soaked whole betel nuts in artificial saliva and found that sucking the nuts released arecoline, a substance known to affect human brain receptors, causing mild euphoria, increased alertness and mouth numbness.
The ancient people may have used betel nuts to alleviate tooth pain, as both individuals had severe dental issues. However, the repeated use of the hard nuts likely damaged their teeth, creating a cycle where the substance was used to relieve pain caused by the habit itself. Betel nuts remain widely consumed today and are among the world's most commonly used psychoactive substances.
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