Drugs made it possible for sailors, soldiers, and pilots to frequently push themselves above their physical and mental limits. Methamphetamine use was promoted in this way as a patriotic duty in Japan
Methamphetamine was initially mass-produced as Pervitin, which became readily available in 1938. The German military recognised the drug’s potential; by 1939, 35 to 40 million doses were available for the soldiers.
The British troops ingested over 72 million doses of Benzedrine, a type of methamphetamine, to its soldiers during World War II
Cigarettes were provided by the government to soldiers during World War I to help them relax and kill boredom. Less than 0.5% of Americans smoked prior to World War I, but after the war, tobacco corporations sold almost 14 million cigarettes per day.
Just over a week has passed since World Drug Day, an occasion set aside to encourage efforts to end drug abuse or, more simply put, to wage a ‘War on Drugs.’ But how does ‘Drugs in War’ sound?
It is generally accepted that the peak of drug use occurred during World War II. But it isn’t. Drug abuse during wartime is as old as the history of war itself. Roman legions are known to have transported wine to the French region for consumption. And because of the opium trade, Britain and China went to war.
For ages, Peruvian aristocracy ingested copious amounts of a mix of medicines and psychotropic substances. Then there are the infamous Viking berserkers, wild fighters who engaged in violent, drug-fueled rage. Some people utilised narcotics as an escape from the horrors of war, while others did so to improve their performance on the battlefield. Not just the armed forces, civilians are also often turned to drugs to escape the horrors of the war.
In this context, Sunday POST this week examines the link between drugs and war.
Soldier’s Disease
Drug use has long been common in conflict zones. It is thought to improve a soldier’s performance on the battlefield and aid in coping with the stresses of war. Opioids were frequently prescribed by military doctors to soldiers to treat their pain, diarrhoea, and coughing fits. One could even conclude that opiates were essential to the American Civil War forces’ ability to perform. When the Civil War ended, an estimated 400,000 veterans still had morphine addictions. Back then, it was called Soldier’s Disease. The medication was frequently used as dysentery preventive. Even when soldiers returned from battle and entered their homes, morphine was easily accessible.
Soldiers could continue to use drugs and live in a drugged state while at home. This doesn’t mean that drug use was only a Civil War phenomenon.
For instance, the Bolsheviks, who supported prohibition during the Russian Revolution, regarded alcohol as a vice. Nevertheless, in spite of this widely held belief, when they eventually gained control, they taxed vodka and utilised the money they generated to finance wars and fill state coffers.
While not directly tied to warfare, the 18th and 19th century’s superpowers prospered through drug-funded activities.
When you take into account the significance of the opium trade, for instance, Britain created what is referred to as a narco-empire.
Although drug use has existed for a long time, World War I brought it to the public’s attention.
Ushering in a new era
Drug usage increased and gained acceptance during World War I, albeit not to the same extent as during WWII. Unbelievably, cigarettes were provided by the government to soldiers during World War I to help them relax and kill boredom. Less than 0.5% of Americans smoked prior to World War I, but after the war, tobacco corporations sold almost 14 million cigarettes per day.
In addition to providing soldiers with smokes, the government also provided them with cocaine. Over 500,000 cocaine doses are thought to have been administered to American soldiers during the conflict.
Additionally, despite the fact that most people associate cocaine with parties, it was really utilised during World War I as an energising substance to fight weariness and intense anxiety.
In addition, cocaine was so generally accepted that soldiers’ spouses would send packages from London pharmacies containing both cocaine and heroin.
While some pharmaceuticals were provided by the government, others were easily obtained on the black market. Near army facilities in Europe, opium dens proliferated, and many soldiers developed heroin and other drug addictions.
Over 40 million individuals are thought to have perished during First World War. It’s understandable how conflict could have encouraged drug use given the destruction it brings.
World War I ushered in a new era of drug use in many ways. During this time, pharmaceuticals expanded in availability and acceptance.
Drugs & WWII
While drug use increased throughout WWI, it increased even more during WWII, a period of unmatched loss and devastation.
Armies engaged in harsh fighting that frequently lasted for days and took a terrible toll on the soldiers all across the world.
Many of them turned to drugs as a way to deal with the stress. Additionally, governments compelled them to use drugs in order to overcome their physical limits. In reality, scientists specifically developed medications to enhance soldiers’ performance on the battlefield through research and development.
Amphetamines, for instance, were created to help soldiers stay awake and attentive while also managing the stress of combat.
The military’s usage of drugs was not restricted by the ruling class.
As a means of reducing tension, the general public also used drugs like Benzedrine.
Taking drug is a patriotic duty!
Drugs were intended to provide Japanese forces a pharmacological advantage over their enemies. The nation thus contracted with several pharmacies to produce the medicine, but its use didn’t end there.
Drugs made it possible for sailors, soldiers, and pilots to frequently push themselves above their physical and mental limits. Methamphetamine use was promoted in this way as a patriotic duty.
Methamphetamine was used by even factory workers to assist them work. Companies distributed methamphetamine to the whole working defence force under the pretence of greater output.
Japan was forced to deal with the repercussions of its actions even after the war. They were now confronted with a big issue as workers and troops continued to abuse the substance due to their easy access to it.
Their society was drowned by a vast stockpile that flowed back into the market, providing entities like the Yakuza a lifeline. In the early 1950s, 5% of people between the ages of 18 and 25 had a drug addiction.
Drug abuse by Hitler
According to several historical accounts, Germany was the first country to provide methamphetamine to its military. But its application didn’t end there. Even Hitler habitually abused amphetamines while heading the government.
The drug was mostly known under the name Pervitin. Many drugs that were later made illegal, like heroin and cocaine, were thought to have originated in Germany.
Methamphetamine was initially mass-produced as Pervitin, which became readily available in 1938. The German military recognised the drug’s potential; by 1939, 35 to 40 million doses were available for the soldiers.
In addition, Temmler Pharmaceuticals recognised that the medicine had the potential to boost German soldiers’ output. The drug Pervitin allowed soldiers to march nonstop for days on end without taking breaks.
On the other side, Hitler met Dr. Theodor Morell during the Third Reich who went on to become Hitler’s personal physician.
The doctor administered over 800 shots to Hitler while they were together. These injections mostly consisted of vitamins and also contained a combination of opiates, barbiturates, and amphetamines.
The Eukodal, commonly referred to as oxycodone, was Hitler’s most notable injection. German novelist and filmmaker Norman Ohler did extensive research on Hitler and his drug use over the years.
America, Britain follow suit
The American and British governments followed Germany’s example and provided their troops with methamphetamines because they didn’t want their soldiers to be at a disadvantage on the battlefield.
As a result, the British troops ingested over 72 million doses of Benzedrine, a type of methamphetamine, during the conflict.
The Americans provided Benzedrine to their troops, and told them to use the inhalers whenever they felt fatigued or needed a boost.
Because the drug was so widely abused by American militaries, the military gave 250–500 million Benzedrine tablets to soldiers.
In 1942 and 1943, the army even included it in the bomber kits for American troops, which meant that 15% of them used the drug.
Consequences of drug abuse
While several nations provided drugs like methamphetamine to their soldiers, it wasn’t without consequences.
Governments had a huge excess of narcotics after the war, which they redirected towards their particular markets, eventually fueling a widespread addiction.
The effects of pill-pushing doctors and easy access to drugs were felt by many veterans. Countries continue to search for a pharmacological edge for their forces despite the negative implications.
The truth is that while utilising pharmaceuticals may increase a soldier’s effectiveness on the battlefield, there are always adverse consequences.
Not only the soldiers, but also the citizens who continue to live in the post-war world, are affected by these effects.
So, whenever one learns about a new ‘wonder drug’ being developed for soldiers, they should keep in mind the history of drugs in warfare and the dangers that go along with it.
