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They were popular during the American Civil War, World War I and II, and among US troops in Vietnam.
But opiates date back thousands of years. Even the Romans used them. Emperor Marcus Aurelius was famously addicted to opium.
Adolf Hitler also regularly consumed cocaine, particularly from 1941 onwards. He used it as medicine to control his stomach spasms and high blood pressure, among other health problems.
Opiates have been used as painkillers for centuries. From morphine to heroin, these has been used to treat and sedate servicemen.
The use of marijuana was very popular during the Vietnam War. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Defense from 1971, 51% of the armed forces had smoked marijuana.
The use of stimulant drugs was also reported during the more recent Syrian civil war. A drug called Captagon is said to have played a role in fueling the war.
According to Franciscan scholar Bernardino de Sahagún, the Chichimeca people of Mexico consumed the root of a cactus called peyote before engaging in combat.
The British Army consumed the drug during World War I. Troops were given pills called Forced March, which contained cocaine.
“Vietnam was known as the first pharmacological war, so called because the level of consumption of psychoactive substances by military personnel was unprecedented in American history,” stated Lukasz Kamienski, author of 'Shooting Up: A History of Drugs in Warfare.'
Viking berserkers are said to have fought in a trance-like state, possibly caused by mushrooms and bog myrtle.
But there’s only one way to fight enhanced soldiers: it’s to take the same drugs. The Allies were also on drugs to fight the Nazis. Their favorite amphetamine was called Benzedrine.
Japan’s kamikaze pilots were reportedly injected with methamphetamine before their missions.
A 1971 report by the House Select Committee on Crime found that, between 1966 and 1969, US troops used 225 million stimulant pills.
According to records at the Laurier Military History Archive in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, soldiers would take 5- 20 mg of Benzedrine sulphate every five to six hours.
The British Armed Forces distributed 72 million amphetamine tablets during the course of World War II.
The U.S. Air Force introduced them in 1942, and the U.S. Army added the tablets to medical kits in 1943. This continued throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars.
They patented a methamphetamine-based drug called Pervitin, and even produced a brand of chocolates called Hildebrand that contained 13 mg of the drug.
It is estimated that between April and July 1940, German troops received more than 35 million methamphetamine tablets.
These drugs were a game changer in warfare. They were stimulants, allowing troops to stay awake, alert, and they would suppress hunger.
“Soldiers were awake for days, marching without stopping, which wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for crystal meth so yes, in this case, drugs did influence history,” said Norman Ohler, author of the book 'Blitzed.'
The world's most popular drug is a stimulant, so it’s easy to see how it can be useful during war.
The Nazis were huge fans of these drugs, and famously used them during the speedy invasion of France and throughout World War II.
“You ask me what we need to win this war. I answer tobacco as much as bullets. Tobacco is as indispensable as the daily ration; we must have thousands of tons without delay,” said U.S. Army General John J. Pershing.
Its use became very popular during the American Civil War. It was then a ration staple during World War I, and later during World War II. From then on, caffeine has been widely used (as both coffee and tea).
Alcohol has been used by numerous troops throughout the years, from Roman legions to the British Royal Navy (who had rum as part of their combat ration until 1970).
One of the world's oldest and most popular drugs has been consumed by troops for millennia.
Reportedly, alcohol had a role in the Russian loss in the Russo-Japanese War (1905-1905) because Russian troops were vastly intoxicated.
Smoking was crucial for morale during the first World War, according to the U.S. Army's chief medical officer, William Gorgas.
According to a 1971 report, 31% of US troops in Vietnam had consumed psychedelics, including LSD, mescaline, and mushrooms.
Hitler himself took daily injections of an heroin-like substance called Eukodol.
Sources: (Al Jazeera) (History) (Annual Reviews)
Make no mistake: this gallery is not about the war on drugs. It's about troops going to war—on drugs!
It's easy to see how enhancing troops by psyching them up, making them more resistant to physical and mental stress, and even numbing them from pain, can be beneficial in a war scenario. And this is exactly what has happened throughout history. From booze to meth, and everything in between, those on the front lines of conflict have been using and abusing drugs for many years.
Browse through and learn more about the history of drug use in warfare.
The use of drugs in warfare
From the Romans to the Nazis
LIFESTYLE History
Make no mistake: this gallery is not about the war on drugs. It's about troops going to war—on drugs!
It's easy to see how enhancing troops by psyching them up, making them more resistant to physical and mental stress, and even numbing them from pain, can be beneficial in a war scenario. And this is exactly what has happened throughout history. From booze to meth, and everything in between, those on the front lines of conflict have been using and abusing drugs for many years.
Browse through and learn more about the history of drug use in warfare.