 Both the painkilling and pleasurable effects of opium have been known in ancient cultures around the world for millennia. The narcotic arrived in the U.S. with the first Chinese immigrants, but it wasn’t until the invention of the hypodermic syringe during the Civil War that opiates infiltrated American society in the same dual role. This program looks at the history of opium’s use and misuse, from cure-all and “child-quieter” to the racist attitude that led to its ban, to the pharmaceutical industry’s liability in creating a whole new breed of addict. Produced by the Open University. Part 1 of the series Opium: A Blessing and Curse. (Portions in other languages with English subtitles, 26 minutes)
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