Inside The Victorian Opium Dens...

In the late 1800s, the United States had just been through the terrible Civil War. The country was still getting used to being the moral and just place it wanted to be. Soon, though, opium and the places where people used it (called "opium dens") became a new enemy. Most of us know more about the war on drugs today, but you might be shocked to learn that many of the same social problems existed in the late 1880s. However, these worries were mostly about Chinese newcomers and the opium habit they brought to the US. When we think of opium dens of the 19th century, the conjured image is usually a hazy, smoke-filled room full of questionable characters, right? Well, at one point in the early 19th century, everyone and their mother was taking opium (quite literally - mothers were specifically targeted by opium marketers). Over the decades, however, and through sensationalized media and literature, the Victorian era opium dens took on a life of their own. Copyright Disclaimers • This video could contain certain copyrighted video clips, pictures, or photographs that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. • All content in these videos is intended for educational use only and complies with fair use principles. • No infringement on copyright was intended. • If you are the copyright owner of any of the items used in this film or you are authorized to speak on your behalf and you have a complaint, kindly SEND us an email. VictorianEra #chinesehistory #weirdhistory