Many drugs that are illegal today were at one time used readily, many prescribed as medication.  Eventually they were pulled from market because of their addictive nature, side effects, long term health risks and abuse of the drugs.

#10  Ibogaine – Treating Addiction

Ibogaine is a hallucinogenic drug that is found in African Iboga shrubs.  Some addiction doctors believe that Ibogaine can be used to treat heroin and opoid addiction.  The drug is said to work for addicts by helping them through potentially deadly withdrawal symptoms and reportedly changing drug-seeking behavior in some addicts.

#9 Amphetamines – Treat Narcolepsy

Amphetamines are used by the medical community to treat various conditions, including narcolepsy (daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks).  Amphetamines are a central nervous system stimulant.  For most people this drug has been effective at reducing daytime drowsiness.

#8  Methamphetamine – Helps Obesity

Desoxyn is the purest form of meth and can be given to obese people for fast short-term weight loss.  It is only prescribed for short-term use as meth is highly addictive.  Desoxym is also prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD as meth helps regulate brain chemicals.

#7  Marijuana – Treating Multiple Sclerosis

Medical cannabis has been found to reduce certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries.  The cannabis is said to exhibit antispasmodic and muscle relaxant properties as well as stimulating appetite.

#6  Ecstasy – Treats PTSD

The MDMA chemical compound in ecstasy is helpful in treating anxiety disorders.  Victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have showed positive responses to treatments involving ecstasy.  Psychologists found that the drug gave a window of time where the patient experienced fewer fear responses and long-term reduction of fear.

#5  Heroin – Helps Woman in Labor

Heroin is an opiate, which is a class of drug commonly used as painkillers.  Heroin is more effective than morphine.  In the UK heroin is available as a controlled prescription drug.  Due to the fact that heroin is a strong and fast acting analgesic (pain killer) it is said to be helpful to woman in labor or people in acute pain conditions.

#4  LSD – Cures Alcoholism

Studies in the 50’s showed that using LSD to treat alcoholism resulted in a 50% success rate and this compared to the 10% success rate for Alcoholics Anonymous.  Recently scientists have taken up this research to see the effectiveness of LSD on treating not only alcohol but sedative, opium and heroin addiction.

#3 Psychedelic Mushrooms – Treat Cluster Headaches

The psyclobin that is found in psychedelic (magic) mushrooms has similar effects as LSD.  Studies show that mushrooms can be used for the treatment of cluster headaches and is effective in most people to relieve the headaches.  The amount needed for the treatment is too small to provide psychedelic effects but can still relieve the pain and reduce the frequency of headaches.

#2 Cocaine – Treat lacerations in Children

Cocaine contains important properties that can be used for treating lacerations.  Cocaine is an effective local anesthetic, it is also a vasoconstrictor which narrows blood vessels.  With these two properties in one drug makes cocaine very effective for treating any kind of laceration.

#1 Ketamine – Treats Depression

Ketamine is an animal tranquilizer commonly referred to by the street name ‘special K’.  This drug has been proven to be adept at treating clinical depression, even in people who have not responded to other treatments.  The drug was even said to be able to repair neuron connections in the brain that had been previously damaged by chronic stress.