Where Sources Agree

• arrows_inputEarliest Evidence of Drug Use: Some sources suggest that humans utilized psychoactive substances as early as 25,000 years ago, with skeletal evidence from Sulawesi indicating habitual betel nut sucking, according to a study published in Science Advances.
• arrows_inputAddictive Cycle Confirmed: Several outlets confirm that ancient foragers were trapped in an addictive cycle where they repeatedly sucked betel nuts to relieve dental pain, which only caused further severe tooth damage, according to Griffith University researchers.

Where Sources Disagree

• arrows_outputBetel Nut Effects Disputed: Some reports characterize the ancient practice of sucking betel nuts as early evidence of psychoactive drug use, emphasizing its mind-altering properties. Conversely, other sources focus on the practice as a medicinal habit, highlighting the nut's numbing effects for pain relief rather than a recreational "high."
• arrows_outputEarliest Drug Use Evidence: Researchers identify the Sulawesi findings as the earliest evidence of habitual drug use, dating back 25,000 years. In contrast, other experts point to evidence that earlier hominids, such as Neanderthals, utilized plants for medicinal relief, suggesting such practices may have existed long before this period.