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The greatest period of opiate addiction in history occured from 1865 thru the early 1900s. This due to the great number of maimed soldiers from the Civil war. The only readily available pain medications were Laudnum(Tincture of Opium) and Morphine. At that time no prescription was required and they could be purchased at any drug store. Additionally many patent medications called “Cordials” contained morphine. Not until the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 were the sales of these products restricted.
I recorded a show from the History Channel which discussed the rise in cocaine use since the early 20th Century or perhaps the late 19th Century. It's interesting to learn how these drugs gained popularity at different points. I do realize that opium appeared to be socially-acceptable at one point as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tells of of Sherlock Holmes taking the drug (I believe this takes place ~1885).
I recorded a show from the History Channel which discussed the rise in cocaine use since the early 20th Century or perhaps the late 19th Century. It's interesting to learn how these drugs gained popularity at different points. I do realize that opium appeared to be socially-acceptable at one point as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tells of of Sherlock Holmes taking the drug (I believe this takes place ~1885).
I dont know how acceptable it was. If you remember Dr. Watson would crtizize him severly for the habit.
Actually I've been watching the program again recently and it discusses Sherlock Holmes and his use – get this – of cocaine! According to the History Channel show (~”Illegal drugs and how they got that way: Cocaine”) cocaine was developed around the 1860s and was initially used as a pick-me-upper in a variety of things such as wine and Coca Cola. From what I understand it was considered to be a hyper-equivalent of a cup of coffee, though it had some big side effects. The show goes into how the drug was brought down and made illegal. It had been given to black dock workers to help them avoid fatigue, but eventually the general fear became that it made blacks more aggressive toward white women. Apparently this was the last draw and the crack down began (I believe in the 19-teens). Rather a sad story of race relations in the U.S., and also sad that a drug which was used on a race to keep them working longer ended up capturing many with addiction in the decades since.
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