Drug use in Ancient Rome

(Scene from the HBO series “Rome” that possibly incorrectly depicts Cleopatra using some mind-altering substance.)

The use of drugs (recreational or medicinal) has been a subject before. (See the post below.) Here’s a good video on the subject. The video requires the free YouTube platform, however:

I was told by a member of this site many years ago that Romans were indeed adopting drug use, both recreational and vocational. He was talking about the substances that induced a beserk rage, used by barbarian tribes, and assured me Roman legionaries saw this and copied the practice. I have yet to find any real evidence of his assertions however.

Egyptians made common use of a blue lotus flower that had mild narcotic properties and I doubt a Roman closely involved with their wealthier classes would escape noticing that. Marc Antony would almost certainly have been introduced to it.