Benzedrine in WWII, a good stimulant with awful side effects. Dexedrine in the Nam, a wonderful drug but could leave one wired. Methedrine, the current version of "speed" has a much nicer high without the terrible side effects.

I believe the difference between now and then is the routine medicating of troops. Hell, we used those things, some of us more than others for a short while. It took about once to realize one really couldn't trust one's judgement or reactions if overdone. Or trust the next guy if he had.

So we about eliminated them, using them only after the adrenaline wore off and then in limited amounts.

But most units while in combat didn't use drugs routinely. At all.

Arf