Primul drog din istorie, folosit acum 25.000 de ani. În Epoca de Gheață, oamenii sugeau semințe de nuci betel • Newsweek România

The earliest known drug, betel nuts, was used by Ice Age hunter-gatherers 25,000 years ago. Evidence from two skeletons found in Sulawesi shows they sucked whole betel seeds, likely for dental pain relief. This practice predates agriculture and challenges previous assumptions about drug use origins. Betel, still consumed widely in South and Southeast Asia, provides mild euphoria and alertness. The study indicates that the act of sucking the seeds released arecoline, affecting brain activity. However, prolonged use led to dental issues, suggesting a paradox where the remedy worsened the original problem. This discovery pushes back the timeline of drug consumption significantly.