The Economic Times

Stone Age high: Ancient Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, study finds

Ancient foragers on Sulawesi island used mind-altering betel nuts approximately 25,000 years ago. Analysis of prehistoric teeth revealed chemical traces of psychoactive compounds and significant wear. This discovery pushes back the timeline for human drug use by thousands of years. The practice may have started as pain relief, creating a cycle of discomfort. Researchers believe this habit evolved into modern betel-chewing traditions over time.