It's Oldest Evidence of Habitual Drug Use—and the Damage

Live updates

1. 1d ago

   Ancient Indonesian Hunter-Gatherer Used Psychoactive Betel Nuts 25,000 Years Ago

   Researchers from Griffith University identified the world's oldest habitual drug user through the analysis of ancient teeth. An Indonesian hunter-gatherer consumed betel nuts during the last Ice Age approximately 25,000 years ago. These nuts produce heightened alertness and mild euphoria. Professor Adam Brumm, the lead author, states that betel nuts are the fourth most used psychoactive substance globally, trailing only nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol. The findings establish that humans experimented with mind-altering substances significantly earlier than previous scientific estimates suggested.

   Why it matters

   This discovery pushes the timeline of human drug consumption deep into the Ice Age. It provides physical evidence of long-term substance use through dental damage. The practice remains common across the Asia-Pacific region today.

   What is confirmed

   • An ancient hunter-gatherer in Indonesia used mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago.
   • The habit dates back to the last Ice Age.
   • Evidence of this drug use was found in ancient teeth.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Betel nuts are the world's fourth most widely used psychoactive substance after alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
   • Betel nuts induce a sense of mild euphoria and heightened alertness.

   What to watch next

   • Further analysis of Ice Age remains for other psychoactive substances
   • Peer review of the Griffith University study findings
   Sources used for this update (4)

   1. www.theguardian.com — Politics live: petrol prices set to rise ‘even higher’ as Middle East crisis escalates; OpenAI says it wants to train models in Australia
   2. www.dailymail.com — Meet the world's oldest drug user: Indonesian hunter–gatherer got high on mind–altering nuts 25,000 years ago, study finds
   3. scitechdaily.com — A 25,000-Year-Old Drug Habit Was Hidden in Ancient Teeth
   4. jen.jiji.com — New evidence complicates debate over sucralose safety
   confidence 90%
2. 3d ago

   Ancient Teeth Reveal Earliest Evidence of Habitual Drug Use

   Archaeologists discovered the oldest known evidence of habitual drug use in the teeth of an ancient hunter-gatherer. The findings indicate that humans experimented with mind-altering substances during the Ice Age. Researchers suggest that Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts up to 25,000 years ago. This discovery pushes back the timeline of human drug consumption significantly further than previous estimates. The ancient teeth also show physical damage linked to the long-term habit.

   Why it matters

   This discovery offers new insights into prehistoric human behavior and the deep history of psychoactive substance use. Finding dental wear and chemical indicators in specimens from thousands of years ago allows scientists to track habits that predate agriculture. It demonstrates that foraging communities engaged in complex plant use long before modern civilizations formed.

   What is confirmed

   • Archaeologists discovered the world's oldest evidence of habitual drug use in the teeth of a hunter-gatherer who lived up to 25,000 years ago.
   • Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts during the Ice Age.
   • The findings reveal origins for one of humanity's oldest drug habits and the associated damage.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The specific psychoactive substance matches the world's fourth most common addictive drug.

   What to watch next

   • Further dental analysis of other prehistoric human remains
   • Additional peer-reviewed studies on the specific plant compounds consumed
   Sources used for this update (8)

   1. The New York Times — Scientists Discover the Earliest Evidence of Drug Use in Really Old Teeth
   2. The Guardian — Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, research finds
   3. Phys.org — Ice Age origins of one of humanity's oldest drug habits discovered
   4. The Conversation — Ancient teeth reveal the Ice Age origins of the world’s 4th most common addictive drug
   5. Popular Science — Humans experimented with drugs 23,000 years earlier than we thought
   6. Smithsonian Magazine — Archaeologists Discover the World's Oldest Evidence of Habitual Drug Use in the Teeth of a Hunter-Gatherer Who Lived Up to 25,000 Years Ago
   7. newser.com — It's Oldest Evidence of Habitual Drug Use—and the Damage
   8. cnn.com — Commonly used psychoactive substance may have prehistoric origins
   confidence 95%