Buzz
Throughout the history of warfare, drugs have been deeply intertwined with the conflicts. From fueling battles over drug trade to manipulating soldiers' minds, substances have been used for a range of purposes. Many wars have been influenced by drugs, with soldiers often under the effect of powerful substances while committing unimaginable actions.
Drugs have served to enhance aggression, stamina, and courage beyond natural limits. These substances were often administered by medical professionals to leaders and reluctant recruits alike. Soldiers also created their own mixtures of recreational drugs to cope with the stress of war. Additionally, drug trafficking remains a key funding source for countries and terrorist organizations.
This list explores the extensive and sometimes shocking relationship between drugs and warfare, stretching across time and continuing into modern-day conflicts.
10. Vikings Engaged in Frenzied Combat with the Help of Magic Mushrooms
Viking warriors struck terror into the hearts of all who encountered them. “God save us from the Fury of the Northmen” was the desperate cry of local populations as the Vikings ravaged their way across Europe. These unstoppable fighters were believed to embody the power of the Norse god Odin, granting them extraordinary strength, pain resistance, and the ability to become frenzied berserkers.
In reality, much of their strength was due to the hallucinogenic effects of Amanita mushrooms. When consumed in large doses, these mushrooms induced berserkers to perform superhuman feats. Their wild and frenzied combat styles were said to be inspired by Odin himself, believed to have sent the mushrooms to enhance their strength.
9. Zulu Warriors Defeated the British with Cannabis and Herbal Teas
On January 22, 1879, British forces encountered the Zulu warriors at Isandlwana in a battle that proved disastrous for the British. Overestimating their superiority and underestimating the Zulu’s tactical prowess, the British were caught off guard. The Zulu forces maintained a tight formation, executing quick hit-and-run strikes to isolate British units. Their battle strategy, known as the 'horns of the bull', was key to their victory over the British troops.
The Zulu warriors were equipped with a blend of psychological techniques and natural remedies to bolster their courage and stamina. Before battle, the Zulu sangoma (or shaman) would lead a ritual to call upon supernatural forces for assistance. A range of plants were used to induce vomiting, purging the warriors and binding them together as a unified fighting force.
In addition, the warriors would use intelezi, a plant that was believed to expel evil spirits and enhance their fearlessness. A special brew of beer was said to provide near invulnerability against fire, while dagga—a South African variety of cannabis—was smoked, inhaled, or brewed into tea to strengthen the belief in one's own combat prowess. Dagga is a sedative, and for battle, it was often combined with a hallucinogenic stimulant like olkiloriti, derived from tree bark and roots, which could induce a frenzied state in the warrior.
8. The British Conflict Over Opium Led to the Acquisition of Hong Kong
In 1781, the British East India Company initiated an illicit opium trade with China. Undercover shipments were sold to Chinese traders at hidden coastal locations. The Chinese authorities disapproved, but it would take nearly 50 years before they attempted to put an end to the trade. In 1838, the Chinese started executing traffickers, but on the high seas, they ignored international maritime laws, boarding British vessels and seizing their cargo.
The British grew increasingly aggressive and deployed their navy, leading to the First (1839–1842) and Second (1856–1860) Opium Wars. The British superiority in naval technology—steam-powered ships, heavy artillery, and rockets—easily defeated the Chinese junks. With their defeat, the Chinese were forced to cede control of their trade ports. The opium trade resumed, Christianity was legalized, and foreigners were granted free access to the Chinese mainland.
To add insult to injury, the British managed to acquire Hong Kong Island as part of the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. A youthful Queen Victoria remarked, 'Albert is so amused at my having got the Island of Hong Kong.'
7. Amphetamines Played a Role in Enhancing Combat Effectiveness During World War II
During World War II, soldiers were taking amphetamines like candy. These drugs helped increase alertness, improve mood, and suppress hunger. On the surface, they seemed ideal for the harsh realities of warfare, but they carried dangerous side effects: addiction, recklessness, and heightened aggression, which sometimes led to psychosis.
US and British troops were given Benzedrine, an amphetamine-based drug, in their ration kits. However, it was the Nazi's obsession with Pervitin (crystal meth in liquid form) that turned it into a nationwide phenomenon. This substance provided the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, and navy with unnatural bravery, extraordinary performance, and dulled pain sensitivity. Rommel was rumored to use it, and Hitler incorporated it into his daily drug routine. In Germany, it was sold in stores across the country, and even housewives consumed chocolate bars infused with crystal meth.
While much attention is given to Nazi Germany's drug culture, it is less known that the Japanese were the pioneers of crystal meth in 1919. The Japanese pharmaceutical company Dainippon Sumitomo mass-produced Philopon, a form of crystal meth, for both civilian and military use during World War II. Factory workers and kamikaze pilots were given substantial doses, and for the kamikaze pilots, who were sent on suicide missions, crystal meth made it easier for them to carry out their deadly attacks on warships.
6. The Drug-Dispensing Doctor of Dictators
While the Nazis fought on speed, Hitler was receiving his own personalized daily drug regimen from the infamous and foul-smelling Doctor Theodore Morell, who administered narcotics and disturbing animal extracts.
Dr. Kuster, who served as Hitler's physician, would often treat the Führer’s severe flatulence with a peculiar concoction of strychnine-infused Anti-Gas pills. In addition, he administered Mutaflor, a hydrolyzed E. coli bacteria preparation, to aid in Hitler's digestion. Other treatments included glucose, barbiturates, pig liver extracts delivered directly into the bloodstream, and even bull testicle capsules to boost Hitler's energy. These remedies were so effective that Morell became an integral member of Hitler’s close inner circle.
By 1941, Hitler's health began to deteriorate, prompting Morell to resort to even stronger substances. The Führer, referred to as ‘patient A,’ began receiving Eukodal, an opiate closely related to heroin, which Morell injected to keep him alert and functional. The effects of Eukodal were euphoric, yet Morell knew this was still insufficient for Hitler's demanding needs.
In 1944, following Hitler’s survival of an explosion at the Wolf’s Lair, another physician began administering cocaine drops to help with his pain management. This led to an addiction to the substance, which Morell soon incorporated into the ever-expanding cocktail of drugs, administering cocaine twice daily along with the other medications.
Morell's relentless administration of injections earned him the nickname ‘Reichsmaster of Injections.’ His records reveal that over 74 distinct types of drugs were given to Hitler throughout their treatment, including the widely used Nazi drug, Pervitin (crystal meth). In total, Hitler received an astounding 800 injections over 1,349 days.
Morell’s reach extended beyond Hitler. He was also responsible for treating other prominent fascists and Nazi officials, including Mussolini, who was referred to as ‘patient D.’ While there is no evidence to suggest Mussolini became addicted like Hitler, Morell administered the same potent drugs to Il Duce. One of Morell’s weekly reports described Mussolini’s miraculous recovery under his care: 'He is playing tennis again, the swelling of his liver is normal… It’s like he’s a racehorse.'
5. Speedballs And Space Shuttles
In both the Korean War and World War II, US military personnel were provided with amphetamines to maintain alertness. However, some soldiers took it a step further by combining their Army-issued stimulants with locally sourced heroin, creating a potent mix known as a speedball. Although the idea of mixing heroin with another stimulant wasn’t new—late Victorian athletes had used a blend of heroin and cocaine for performance enhancement—this marked the first time speedballs had made their way into warfare. Typically, the two substances were injected together: heroin, a depressant, would balance out the stimulant effects of the amphetamines or cocaine.
Even United Nations peacekeepers weren’t immune to drug use, and some created their own signature drinks. In Cambodia, one such concoction was referred to as the 'Space Shuttle.' A peacekeeper shared the preparation method: 'It’s made by distilling a pound of marijuana over six weeks with progressively better-quality spirits. The result is a labor of love, an amber liquid that tastes like cognac.' This unique beverage was typically enjoyed with rounds of Coca-Cola.
4. LSD As A Nonlethal Spray
During the Cold War, the United States feared that the Soviet Union was developing LSD as a chemical weapon in the form of a spray. The media fueled these anxieties by labeling the LSD sprays as “madness gases” or “psycho-chemicals,” claiming they could incapacitate both the general population and military forces.
The United States leveraged this fear to justify its own experiments with LSD, believing the substance could be a potent tool for incapacitating even the most well-trained military units without causing fatalities or lasting injuries. From 1955 to around 1972, LSD, along with synthetic marijuana, mescaline, psilocybin, and other substances, was tested on hundreds of healthy soldiers in the controversial Edgeware Experiments. Psychiatrist Colonel James Ketchum, a leading authority on Cold War-era psychoactive chemicals, defends these experiments in his book, Chemical Warfare: Secrets Almost Forgotten, arguing that the U.S. needed to stay competitive with the Soviet Union, which was amassing large quantities of LSD.
Soldiers were subjected to experiments involving cocktails laced with LSD, sometimes at parties, or LSD was secretly added to their unit’s water supply. While some soldiers showed no adverse effects, others had intense reactions, ranging from euphoria to deep depression. Eventually, both LSD and mescaline were abandoned as potential chemical warfare agents due to these unpredictable outcomes.
3. ISIS Drug Trade: Taxation or Trafficking?
ISIS has been known to use drugs in multiple ways: as performance enhancers, specifically captagon, an amphetamine, and as a revenue source through drug trafficking to fund their operations. However, the narrative surrounding their drug trade might not be as clear-cut as it seems. While headlines suggest that ISIS is a major player in drug trafficking, with claims that it generates billions from Afghan heroin to fund attacks, experts like Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a renowned authority on criminal organizations, argue that such headlines often lack credible evidence and may be exaggerated.
Where are these journalists getting their information from? Felhab-Brown suggests that many journalists are treating Russian propaganda as fact. This information, whether genuine or not, primarily originates from the Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN), often referred to as “Russia’s DEA,” which was dissolved by Putin in April 2016. The FSKN had a controversial history, focusing on small-time drug offenders while neglecting large-scale traffickers. This may be tied to Viktor Ivanov, the former head of the agency, who was allegedly connected to the Russian mafia and its cocaine trafficking operations from Colombia to Western Europe.
Is there a link between ISIS and drug trafficking? Currently, the primary source of ISIS’s funding appears to be through taxation and confiscation. A report from 2016 by IHS, Inc. found that taxation brought in $56 million, or 50% of their monthly income, while drug trafficking accounted for only 7%. That said, the two sources of income may overlap, as ISIS reportedly taxes the drug trade. ISIS operates in a region of North Africa known for its hashish trade, with drugs leaving Morocco for Europe via Italy. While there's no concrete evidence that drug trafficking is a major financial driver for ISIS, their involvement in the trade raises suspicions.
2. Recruitment of Child Soldiers
The use of children in warfare is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable. Drugs are often used as a tool for recruitment, not as an enticement, but to make the children more susceptible, lower their defenses, and create dependency on both the drugs and the individuals administering them. It is estimated that over 250,000 child soldiers are currently being used in more than 25 countries, including Uganda, Sudan, and regions in the Middle East, with some children being as young as seven.
Both boys and girls fall victim to this horrifying practice, with armed insurgents snatching children from the streets, buses, homes, and even churches. In Uganda, 10,000 children were drugged and forced into the unimaginable terror of killing their own family members, ensuring they would have nowhere to flee to if they managed to escape.
To increase their courage and numb the children to violence, tranquilizers and amphetamines are administered. A child soldier from Sierra Leone shared that he was given a white powder mixed with rice, which made him feel invincible. Once addicted, these drugs were used as incentives for further combat.
1. The Poppy Fields of Afghanistan
In the 1980s, Afghanistan's drug trade became a central point of focus for both the USSR and the US. Beginning in 1979, the Soviets deployed 100,000 troops to support the pro-Soviet regime in fighting the local mujahideen resistance, who were largely funded by the US. As the conflict continued, the Americans feared that the Soviets might flood the US with heroin. At the same time, Soviet soldiers indulged in the drug and exchanged their weapons for heroin from the drug-dealing mujahideen.
Over time, drug-dependent soldiers became a major issue for the USSR. The small group of mujahideen essentially gained control of large quantities of Soviet weaponry, as Soviet soldiers were willing to trade these arms just to feed their drug habits. Starting in 1984, Soviet military police set up roadblocks in Kabul to seize military equipment that Soviet troops had stolen and were attempting to sell for heroin. When caught, the soldiers were sent on a one-way trip to a Siberian gulag.
When the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, civil war erupted, and the mujahideen eventually transformed into the Taliban, the US's new adversary. The Taliban dramatically reduced opium production by 95 percent, but following the US invasion in 2001, former drug lords were reinstated in Afghanistan, and the flow of drugs resumed.
In an article for Wired magazine, Lt. Christopher Gackstatter explained that his 2nd Platoon was prohibited from entering the poppy fields. They were not allowed to burn, plow, or poison the fields, nor could they interfere with the heroin source in any way. Additionally, soldiers were not permitted to deter farmers from cultivating poppies, despite the fact that poppy farming had been officially banned since 2001.
