Lifestyle
Scientists Find Oldest Known Evidence of Humans Chewing Drugs
Ancient teeth from 25,000 years ago show humans were already using mind-altering plants.
Close-up of ancient human teeth being studied by an archaeologist in a lab.
By John Doe
Reporting from Indonesia 
Sept. 11, 2026, 9:51 p.m. - 6 hours ago
Scientists have found the oldest proof of humans using drugs. They looked at teeth from a person who lived about 25,000 years ago. This person was a hunter-gatherer living in what is now Indonesia.
Researchers looked at the teeth and found evidence of a plant called the areca nut. When you chew this nut, it acts as a stimulant. A stimulant is something that gives you a burst of energy or changes how your brain feels. Even today, people in some parts of the world chew this nut to feel more awake and alert.
The damage on the teeth shows that this person chewed the nuts a lot. This means it wasn’t just a one-time thing. It was a habit.
Before this discovery, experts thought humans only started doing this much later in history. This new find proves that people were looking for ways to change their mood or energy levels a very long time ago, even during the Ice Age.
It is interesting to think that thousands of years ago, people were doing the same things we do today to help them get through the day or feel a little buzz. The study gives us a peek into the daily lives of our very old ancestors.
Source: Newser
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