The International E-magazine on Adolescent Health; Alcohol and Illegal Drug Use The International E-magazine on Adolescent Health; | Page 2

THE INTERNATIONAL E-MAGAZINE

MAY 2014

OPIUM

1.-According to Hippocrates, what were some
attributes of opium?
The cure for all the diseases that were present,
mostly diarrhea
2.-Who introduced opium to the people of Persia
and India?
Alexander the Great introduced opium
3.-Was Opium popular in Europe during the
Middle Ages?
Yes, Opium was already being cultivated and it had
been used as a drug at least since the Neolithic
period.
4.-Who introduced in China the practice of
smoking opium in a tobacco pipe?
Dutch introduce the practice of smoking opium in a
tobacco pipe to the Chinese.

5.-Describe how the British East India Company
dominated the opium trade since 1750.
British shipping dominates the opium trade out of
Calcutta to China.
6.-When was morphine developed?
In 1803 by Fiedrich Serturner of Paderborn, Germany
discovers the active ingredient of opium by dissolving
it in acid then neutralizing it with ammonia
7.-Describe China´s government efforts to ban
opium since 1729.
The Chinese banned opium several times, citing
concern for public morals. Opium had been banned in
China even though it had been used in Chinese
medicine for thousands of years. The sale and
smoking of the drug was banned by Emperor
Yongzheng in 1729, but 100 years later there was still
strong demand and the British were exploiting it.
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