It is no secret that Queen Wilhelmina used pervetine. It is documented in the royal family archives. “We knew it, but it is still very vague why she did that,” says royal family expert Coks Donders. “We do know that she has made major and important decisions under the influence of drugs.”
Medicinal drugs
It is likely that pervetine was not known at the time as the hard drug as we know it today, says Donders. “Many drugs started out as medicinal drugs, so as medicine for a disease. But from the moment you used them incorrectly or too much, it could turn into hard drugs. It is true that much more is now known about these drugs. That is why They are used for other purposes and no longer as medicine, as in the past.”
However, according to Alex van Dongen of addiction clinic Novadic-Kentron, a ‘liberal ideology’ that prevails in the Netherlands also plays a role. “That means that we think: it’s not too bad so it should be possible.”
Nitrous oxide and 4-mmc
According to the expert, there has been a vicious circle throughout history. “It is often the case with drugs that first come onto the market and it happened a lot, especially at the beginning of the 20th century: a new drug is discovered and it seems very harmless. Little research has been done on it and the research results we have seem not too bad, so we just tolerate it. Until it goes wrong, then we ban it.”
It has happened before with cocaine and GHB and in recent years it has involved substances such as laughing gas and ‘meow meow’ (4-mmc). “The first research into laughing gas said: ‘not super addictive’. Until we had major problems with it,” says Van Dongen. “More and more cases were reported of children and adults suffering major consequences.”
According to royal expert Donders, drugs such as pervetine were especially popular during wartime. “It is a stimulant to combat fatigue,” Donders explains. “Soldiers used it at that time to survive. They had such a tough life that they could use a boost every now and then.”
The war also had an enormous influence on the use of the queen. “She was also in exile in England. I certainly think that the traumatic situation prompted her to use the drug. Without the war she would not have done so.”
Vulnerable people
The first people who can use new drugs are often people in a privileged position, agrees Van Dongen of Novadic-Kentron. “Like the queen in this case,” he says. “They are less likely to become very addicted to it because they live in good circles. The impact is less significant for them. Ultimately, it will become a massive thing and vulnerable people will also use it. You will see things go wrong more quickly with them.”
2024-03-13 12:45:23
#Queen #Wilhelmina #crystal #meth #Decisions #influence
