History of Opium

Author: Mei Busi, translated by Ren Huali
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-08-01
Features: Long before recorded history, opium was widely known—it was the oldest and most widely used anesthetic. Until the early 20th century, opium and its derivative heroin, used for pain relief, had a dual reputation: on one hand, addictive and potentially fatal; on the other hand, capable of alleviating physical suffering, while also serving as the lifeline for many third-world poppy farmers. Opium has had an extremely profound impact on world culture and economy, spanning thousands of years and covering tens of thousands of miles. Primitive people considered opium to be of great significance; Romanticism; Romantic writers discovered that opium could inspire imagination. From early medical research to the Opium Wars between China and Britain in the modern era, to today's multi-billion-dollar international drug trade, opium has become an integral part of the global financial market. No matter how strongly governments and law enforcement agencies oppose the drug trade, the production, processing, and smuggling of opium have steadily increased along with the rise in the number of addicts. The victims of opium and heroin number in the millions, scattered across the world, from impoverished people in Southeast Asia to drug dealers in New York, from urban housewives to diplomats—none are untouched by it. For modern society, opium is no less than a whip. This book is a comprehensive review of the history of opium. The author, with an in-depth pen, explores the many facets of this extraordinary anesthetic, delving into its complex history, cultivation, production, use, trafficking, impact, and both sweet and painful consequences.