From Patients to Criminals: History Of Opium EP 5From Patients to Criminals: History Of Opium EP 5
Weekly Infusion
By the end of the nineteenth century, “addiction cures” were everywhere. Many people had become addicts at the hand of their own doctors, but The Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914 was poised to reclassify this hapless population as...
17:48•28 Mar 2019
From Healing to Handcuffs: The Opium Story and Drug Criminalization
“No longer could false claims be used to sell dangerous patent medicines. And this was just the beginning of the government's involvement in the food and drug industry in the initial shot was fired in the war on drugs when Congress passed the first drug prohibition law.”
Imagine a time when doctors, with the best intentions, turned their patients into addicts. By the late 1800s, 'addiction cures' were all the rage, often leading to more harm than good. This episode of Weekly Infusion dives into that murky past with drug historian Dr. David Courtwright. He takes us through the fascinating yet troubling history of opium and how it transformed from a medicinal marvel to a public menace.
The Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914 plays a pivotal role in this story, reclassifying addicts as criminals and setting the stage for the underground drug trade we know today. But it wasn’t just about laws; social activists known as Muckrakers exposed the deceitful practices of patent medicine companies, adding another layer to this complex narrative. Dr.
Courtwright’s insights don't just stop at history; he also touches on modern implications and offers a glimmer of hope with his upcoming book, 'The Age of Addiction: How Bad Habits Became Big Business'. If you're curious about how addiction went from a medical issue to a criminal one, this episode is a must-listen.
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