Medicinal Opiate Relief vs Addiction

This novel touches on the difficulties faced by many in London and elsewhere in the 1800's when opiates were freely prescribed for everything from headaches to stomach maladies. Considered to be a virtual cure-all, opium was available in drug stores for medicinal uses, in taverns for recreation, and was a staple that no home should be without. The sector of the population that had wealth often sought relief from a variety of illnesses for which opium would be prescribed. The poor sector used what they could get to relieve pain and to ease the condition of their lives. In short, many people used opium on a regular basis in this time period. There was no discussion about the addictive properties of this 'medicine' and those who found that they suffered without the use of an ever increasing amount of opium mostly suffered...