Scientists Find Oldest Known Evidence of Humans Chewing Drugs

Ancient teeth from 25,000 years ago show humans were already using mind-altering plants.

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 w…