Lie to get your next fix. While early cigarettes and beer didn't literally twist the physical structure of the brain to make someone dishonest, their addictive properties and neurological effects absolutely could lead to significant cognitive impairments, behavioral changes, and a compromised ability to reason, remember, and therefore, potentially to speak or perceive "truthfulness" accurately. The phrase likely captured the observed impact of these substances on individuals' minds and lives. Don't do street drugs.
Shuhak 