…at least 4000 years, possibly longer, nobody ever suggested that opium was addictive until the 17th century when the english physician John Playfair noted for the first time that exposure to opium created a craving for more opium. It had been used for 3000…

…degradation and addiction? Opium has been around for thousands and thousands of years. It wasn't until 1624 that the english physician John Playfair noticed for the first time, so far as we can tell, that it was an addictive substance. Before 1624, no one…

…ulcers, any painful, chronic condition, opium would be your obvious recourse. Addiction, as a general concept, it's probably in John Playfair they began purifying and using alcohol extractions. You know, opium is. It's interesting how these intoxicants, I mean,…

…in the ancient world. We view opium as virulently addicting. However, it wasn't noticed that opium was addicting until 1600, when John Playfair, in a book of his, mentioned the addiction syndrome. It was used for 3000 years with nobody noticing that you…

…years before anybody noticed that it was an addicting drug. It was not ever noted that opium was addicting until 1611, when John Playfair, a very famous english physician, wrote a book in which he commented on opium and said, once one has begun the habit…