The god within

This is a new feature of Substance Use and Misuse that the editors hope will bring a new focus on substance use and misuse throughout history and in diverse cultures. Up until modern times, cultures throughout history have associated different substances with specific deities, incorporated them into specific myths, and used substances in specific rituals. Examining these associations is likely to give insight into how these substances were viewed in various cultures and the place that they had in those cultures. Consequently, we offer this new feature exploring these associations as a way of increasing understanding of the functions of substance use in different cultures over historical time.