Opium and the People: Opiate Use in Nineteenth-Century England

Abstract

An impartial observer surveying our society's response to drug abuse might be amused or appalled, but not admiring. Some dangerous drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol, are dealt with in an ambivalent manner, despite widespread acknowledgment of their devastating effects. Other dangerous drugs, such as opiates and cocaine, are strictly and harshly controlled in a manner suggestive of moralistic zeal rather than public health concern. The rationale for these differing approaches is clearly not based solely on pharmacology and has its roots in societal and historical factors. The understanding of these roots by those concerned with drug abuse treatment and policy formulation might lead to a more informed approach to these areas. This book provides such an understanding for one drug, opium. Written mainly by a historian (Berridge) aided by a psychiatrist specializing in addiction (Edwards), this volume traces the evolution of opium use in Great Britain in the 19th century from its widespread sale on the open market in the first three quarters of the cen¬ tury, to the increasing restrictions placed on its sale and distribution by the last quarter of the century. The book focuses on explaining the reasons for this change, which were related not simply to concern over the pharmaco¬ logical dangers of overdose and addic¬ tion, although these concerns clearly played a part. A major factor that Ber¬ ridge emphasizes that led to control

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