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(amphetamines) Paul Erdos' Drug Use

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Nero_Transmitter

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Greetings Bluelighters

The world-famous mathematician Paul Erdos (1913-1996) was a habitual user of amphetamines beginning in 1971, when he was 58 years old. In 1979 a colleague bet him $500 that he couldn't stop taking the drug for a full month. He won the bet, but concluded by saying, "You've showed me I'm not an addict. But I didn't get any work done. I'd get up in the morning and stare at a blank piece of paper. I'd have no ideas, just like an ordinary person. You've set mathematics back a month." He then immediately started taking amphetamines again, presumably until his death at the age of 83.

Based on this sketchy information, knowledgeable forum members, what EXACTLY do you suppose Erdos was taking? What constituted "amphetamines" in the 1970s? Did this class of drug undergo notable developments between 1970 and the mid-90s?

Another bit of information to keep in mind is that Erdos was a constant international traveller during most of his life, and so may have been able to obtain a wider variety of substances.

I am hoping very much to hear from old and knowledgeable folks. Cheers!
 
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The question makes a little more sense in light of the US scene, where d,amphetamine basically doesn't exist as a clandestinely manufactured substance (I'm generalizing but you know what I mean) and hasn't at least since the 80's. It's all methamphetamine if it's not in pharmaceuticals.

I'd guess given proximity to universities and what I'd guess about what older professor types would gravitate to that he was taking pharmaceuticals amphetamine, dexedrine or the like.
 
Sounds about right to me, Morph. Meth has some history of use by such folks but from what I hear/read dexies and their ilk would be more likely for someone in this situation.

Nero: Can't remember exactly how you activate your account but I think you just have to click on the linky in your Welcome Waggon email. Don't take my word for it though cos it's been a while since I've done it. Try asking in Support - tis what it's there for :)

PS: You do seem to have replied to the one post you've replied to so far though :D
 
Erdos also had a ridiculous coffee habit.


Funny, because combinatorics was also my gig, and yet, I found I did my best work when exactly the opposite of wired (eg, opiated or drunk).
 
haha I went to my advanced grade 12 math class high on 4 hits of LSD and finished the class assignment and the homework before anyone else.

Whats really odd about that is when I take LSD now I get so high sometimes I have trouble doing simple drug math...lol
 
Swerz said:
Hell no, I use to love going to Calculus stoned
Click to expand...

Are you Asian?

I'm just messing around, I guess it would be like a real cool puzzle or something if Math is you're kind of thing. I don't even know my times tables, and I am a college student now it's sad. There is a bunch of careers that are limited to me now because I am mathematically challenged and I may have to change my major and give up what I love to learn about.

YAY math. :|.
 
Nero_Transmitter said:
Greetings Bluelighters

The world-famous mathematician Paul Erdos (1913-1996) was a habitual user of amphetamines beginning in 1971, when he was 58 years old. In 1979 a colleague bet him $500 that he couldn't stop taking the drug for a full month. He won the bet, but concluded by saying, "You've showed me I'm not an addict. But I didn't get any work done. I'd get up in the morning and stare at a blank piece of paper. I'd have no ideas, just like an ordinary person. You've set mathematics back a month." He then immediately started taking amphetamines again, presumably until his death at the age of 83.

Based on this sketchy information, knowledgeable forum members, what EXACTLY do you suppose Erdos was taking? What constituted "amphetamines" in the 1970s? Did this class of drug undergo notable developments between 1970 and the mid-90s?

Another bit of information to keep in mind is that Erdos was a constant international traveller during most of his life, and so may have been able to obtain a wider variety of substances.

I am hoping very much to hear from old and knowledgeable folks. Cheers!
Click to expand...

My guess would be the same amphetamines as today, just in different preparations and brand names. I'd guess Biphetamine (a racemic d,l just like Adderall, no longer manufactured), or Dexedrine. Maybe even Methedrine, if it was available on the pharm market back then.
 
hey Nero Transmitter, im just going to go ahead and move your thread over to the Drug Culture forum because it's designed to talk about these kind of topics.
 
Thank you all for your helpful responses. The LSD-in-math-class story reminded me of the drugged spider experiment -- remember? A scientist gave various drugs to a spider and noted the effects on the web it spun. Caffeine produced a jerky spasmodic inefficient web; barbies knocked the spider out halfway through the job; and LSD induced super concentration so that the resulting web had far less mistakes and uneven bits than usual. I'm surprised no one has ever repeated these famous experiments, but then again, perhaps no one is brave enough to demonstrate clinically that various illegal drugs can have such positive effects, especially in these New Puritan times.

It's also interesting to note that some people find their mental performance enhanced by drugs which REDUCE performance in others. There's always one weirdo in the crowd :) I myself used to get the most enormous, speed-like lift from drinking, it was most untypical of alcohol.
 
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