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Drug cultures are examples ofcountercultures that are primarily defined byspiritual,medical, andrecreational drug use. They may be focused on a single drug, or endorsepolydrug use. They sometimes eagerly or reluctantly initiate newcomers, but their main functions are to share drug experiences, toreduce harm by providing knowledge of how to use drugs as safely as possible, and to exchange information on suppliers and avoidance oflaw enforcement.
Drug subcultures are groups of people united by a common understanding of the meaning, value, and risks of the incorporation into one's life of the drug(s) in question. Such unity can take many forms, from friends who take the drug together, possibly obeying certain rules ofetiquette, groups banding together to help each other obtain drugs and avoid arrest,[1] to full-scalepolitical movements for the reform ofdrug laws.[2] The sum of these parts can be considered an individual drug's "culture".
Many artists, writers, and musicians have used various drugs to facilitate or enhance theircreativity. Writers have explored their influence on human life in general and particularly on the creative process. There are many writings that portray drug culture.Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novelFear and Loathing in Las Vegas employs multiple drug use as a major theme and provides an example of thedrug culture of the 1960s.
After various drug cultures came to prominence during the 1960s, 1980s and early 2000s, theinternet provided a new location and medium where drug cultures could be born and propagate. Technologies likeTor were able to offer anonymouswebsite hosting andbrowsing, which were used for the creation of thedarknet marketSilkRoad, the first of many to be used in the sale of psychoactive substances and otherillegal goods. There areYouTube channels devoted to recreational drug use and harm reduction, with the most popular being PsychedSubstance. Except for forums (likeBlue Light) where individuals can post and discuss the properties and experiences ofpsychoactive substances, there are websites and organizations specifically created to serve asencyclopedias of psychoactive drugs and drug culture, such asErowid and PsychonautWiki.
Cannabis has been used in the ancient past in places such asancient India, Romania, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.[3] It was often used as medicine or for hemp. Its main route of consumption was smoking. Over time the culture became more international and a general "cannabis culture" formed.Cannabis culture has been responsible for the genre of films known asstoner films which has come to be accepted as a mainstream cinema movement.[4][5] In theUnited States the culture has also spawned its own celebrities (such asTommy Chong andTerence McKenna), magazines (Cannabis Culture andHigh Times), and, in North America, its own distinct holiday:April 20 (420), which is marked as a day for calling for thelegalization of cannabis and celebration of cannabis.[6][7] The consumption of cannabis influenced many artistic movements such asjazz,electronic music andhip hop.[citation needed]
Alcohol (also known as ethanol) is apsychoactive drug[8][9] found inalcoholic beverages. Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world[10] and is often used forself-medication,[11] and recreational use.[12]"
Thehip hop,hardcore rap, andtrap scenes, alongside theirderivative subgenres andsubcultures, are notorious for having continuously celebrated and promoteddrug trafficking,gangster lifestyle, and the consumption of alcohol and other drugs since their inception in the United States during the late 1980s–early 1990s.[13][14][15]
The drugs used in witchcraft are different depending on the culture. Most of the research done on drug use in witchcraft was done in the 60s during the hippie movement. Since then, the claim that ergot was taken in Salem has been disproven. However, because the research was done during the hippie and drug movement in the 70s, the theory is still a part of drug culture.[16]
Ancient Greek love magic used many rituals that show drug use in poisoning to deepen the emotion of love. Love magic would be used by ancient Greek women to gain or keep a man's love. Researchers of this period often look at the agency of the women. Greek love magic relates to drug culture as it deals with poisoning people. There can be similarities found in today's date rape drug. However, in ancient Greek time the women would slowly poison the men. Women would put the poisons on their robes to expose it to the men.[17]
Shamanism used hallucinogens to further their spirituality. These hallucinogens were used for different ceremonies of the Indians in the Northwest Amazon. These ceremonies include funerals and initiation of the young. Shamans had a wider range of use for these drugs. Shamans used these drugs to identify illnesses and find possible cures or to find an enemy.[18]
There is a theory, seemingly disproven due to timeline of events and number of those who experience the symptoms, that the Salem witch trials were caused byergot poisoning. Ergot poisoning gives a similar effect to LSD, but likeergine the physical effects and dangers (including death due to higher toxicity of theergolines in ergot) are much more substantial than the use of LSD for psychedelic research and ritual contexts.[19][20]
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