The First U.S. Opiate Crisis: The Civil War and the Opium Eaters

The Poor Historians: Medical History Misadventures

History does have a way of repeating itself--at least in broad strokes. In this episode we'll discuss the first opiate crisis the U.S. ever suffered and do a bit of comparison to modern times. From opium, to morphine, to heroin, these substances have been a part of civilization for much longer than most realize.

If you or someone you know may be struggling with opiates or other addictive substances, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has a confidential 24/7, 365 hotline to call to start finding help:
1–800–662–HELP (4357)

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Sources:

Thomas DeQuincy

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/the-man-who-invented-the-drug-memoir

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_De_Quincey

Confessions of an English Opium Eater Book

https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/DeQuincey_Confessions_and_Suspiria_1850.pdf

Successful Treatment of Opium Eaters. The New England journal of medicine. 1853;48:77-77.

https://go.exlibris.link/MQmYF19P

Other:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/inside-story-americas-19th-century-opiate-addiction-180967673/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Narcotics_Tax_Act

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002204267500500201?journalCode=joda

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium

https://www.dea.gov/factsheets

https://www.ohsu.edu/historical-collections-archives/theres-cure-historic-medicines-and-cure-alls-america

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_den

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_movement

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heroin/etc/history.html

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