People have taken drugs for centuries, both as medicines or remedies, and as recreational stimulants.

Drugs have different effects on different people - and many of the alleged side-effects, especially links with mental illnesses, are still in dispute. Some drugs, like cannabis, are categorised as illegal drugs in some cultures, while forming part of a traditional diet in others.

As it becomes easier to buy drugs from different parts of the world, mainstream recreational drugs have become more widely available.