Over the course of human history there have been countless powerful natural and artificial drugs, but none parallel opium in its mythical status, range of uses, and longevity of interest. Indeed, no other drug has had an economic, political, and social influence comparable to opium and its derivatives. Opium is the oldest drug ever cultivated and actively pursued by the human species; it even predates the fermentation of alcohol. The story of opium could fill entire libraries with historical, clinical, and anecdotal information. The story of opium is one of both individual and global conflict. It is a story of alleviating pain and inspiring genius, of addiction, escape, and freedom, of contradictions and mystery. Above all, the story of opium is one of constant mutation within the instability and evolution of human consumption and addiction. The story is as relevant today as it was during the great opium wars of the mid nineteenth century, yet it stretches back into the far reaches of human civilization.
