During the Vietnam era drugs were popular among the hippie counterculture and young soldiers. Many veterans and hippies became addicted to the substances they used, whether it was heroin or methamphetamines. It can be seen that the drug had an impact on both social groups through the analysis of the hippie counterculture and Vietnam soldiers. During the 1960s, thousands of people moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, settling in the North Beach, Berkeley, or Haight-Ashbury neighborhoods. Among the people who moved away were writers, artists, and musicians, and then there were some people who were looking for an alternative to the religions that their parents had imprinted on them. These kids seeking a spiritual refuge were inspired by the work, The Psychedelic Experience, which describes the fusion of Eastern mysticism, Native American rituals and psychedelic drugs. These guys would be called the “hippie movement” or the “psychedelic drug counterculture” (Wesson). “Most hippies opposed the Vietnam War, the military draft, competitive materialism, and drug laws” (Wesson). Many hippies were looking for a lifestyle different from traditional materialistic culture (Wesson). Hippies were anti-scientific because they did not support the use of science to make military weapons (Wesson). Although hippies despised the Vietnam War, they were not all anti-war activists or pacifists. The main reason they were against the war was because they were subject to the draft and could be drafted into the army by "the man". (Wesson). Although to unite under one goal, they organized large gatherings where music was played, speeches were given and, of course, drugs were taken. One of the meetings was called "Human Be-...... middle of paper ......" American Journal On Addictions 19.3 (2010): 212-214. Academic Search Complete. Web. November 25, 2013. LoConto, Stephanie C. “Meth: The Physical Effects.” Attorney, Journal of the National District Attorneys Association March-April 2007: 30+ Academic Web al. “Vietnam Veterans Three Years After Vietnam: How Our Study Changed Our View of Heroin.” American Journal On Addictions 19.3 (2010): 203-211 Web is heroin dangerous?" British Medical Journal 25 September 1993: 807. Academic OneFile. Web. 30 November 2013. Wesson, Donald R. "Psychedelic drugs, hippie counterculture, speed and phenobarbital treatment of sedative-hypnotic addiction: a journey to the Haight Ashbury in the 1960s." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 43.2 (2011): 153+. Academic OneFile. Web. December 1. 2013.