Narcotic Culture: A History of Drugs in China (2004)

To this day, the perception persists that China was a civilization defeated by imperialist Britain’s most desirable trade commodity, opium - a drug that turned the Chinese into cadaverous addicts in the iron grip of dependence. Britain, in an effort to reverse the damage caused by opium addiction, launched its own version of the “war on drugs,” which lasted roughly sixty years, from 1880 to World War II and the beginning of communism. But, as Narcotic Culture brilliantly shows, the real scandal in Chinese history was not the expansion of the drug trade by Britain in the early nineteenth century, but rather the failure of the British to grasp the consequences of prohibition. In a stunning historical reversal, Frank Dikotter, Lars Laamann, and Zhou Xun tell this differeht story of the relationship between opium and the Chinese. They reveal that opium actually had few harmful effects on either health or longevity; in fact, it was prepared and appreciated in highly complex rituals with inbuilt constraints preventing excessive use. Opium was even used as a medicinal panacea in China before the availability of aspirin and penicillin. But as a result of the British effort to eradicate opium, the Chinese turned from the relatively benign use of that drug to heroin, morphine, cocaine, and countless other psychoactive substances. Narcotic Culture provides abundant evidence that the transition from a tolerated opium culture to a system of prohibition produced a “cure” that was far worse than the disease. Delving into a history of drugs and their abuses, Narcotic Culture is in part revisionist history of imperial and twentieth-century Britain and a sobering portrait of the dangers of prohibition. To This Day, The Perception Persists That China Was A Civilization Defeated By Imperialist Britain's Most Desirable Trade Commodity, Opium - A Drug That Turned The Chinese Into Cadaverous Addicts In The Iron Grip Of Dependence. Britain, In An Effort To Reverse The Damage Caused By Opium Addiction, Launched Its Own Version Of The War On Drugs, Which Lasted Roughly Sixty Years, From 1880 To World War Ii And The Beginning Of Communism. But, As Narcotic Culture Brilliantly Shows, The Real Scandal In Chinese History Was Not The Expansion Of The Drug Trade By Britain In The Early Nineteenth Century, But Rather The Failure Of The British To Grasp The Consequences Of Prohibition. In A Stunning Historical Reversal, Frank Dikotter, Lars Laamann, And Zhou Xun Tell This Different Story Of The Relationship Between Opium And The Chinese. They Reveal That Opium Actually Had Few Harmful Effects On Either Health Or Longevity; In Fact, It Was Prepared And Appreciated In Highly Complex Rituals With Inbuilt Constraints Preventing Excessive Use. Opium Was Even Used As A Medicinal Panacea In China Before The Availability Of Aspirin And Penicillin. But As A Result Of The British Effort To Eradicate Opium, The Chinese Turned From The Relatively Benign Use Of That Drug To Heroin, Morphine, Cocaine, And Countless Other Psychoactive Substances. Narcotic Culture Provides Abundant Evidence That The Transition From A Tolerated Opium Culture To A System Of Prohibition Produced A Cure That Was Far Worse Than The Disease.--jacket. The Global Spread Of Psychoactive Substances (c. 1600-1900) -- Opium Before The 'opium War' (c. 1600-1840) -- Opium For The People : Status, Space And Consumption (c. 1840-1940) -- The Best Possible And Sure Shield : Opium, Disease And Epidemics (c. 1840-1940) -- War On Drugs : Prohibition And The Rise Of Narcophobia (c. 1880-1940) -- Curing The Addict : Prohibition And Detoxification (c. 1880-1940) -- Pills And Powders : The Spread Of Semi-synthetic Opiates (c. 1900-1940) -- Needle Lore : The Syringe In China (c. 1890-1950) -- China's Other Drugs (c. 1900-1950). Frank Dikotter, Lars Laamann, Zhou Xun. Includes Chinese Character List. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 270-306) And Index. To this day, the perception persists that China was a civilization defeated by imperialist Britain's most desirable trade commodity, opiuma drug that turned the Chinese into cadaverous addicts in the grip of dependence. Britain, in an effort to reverse the damage caused by opium addiction, launched its own version of a war on drugs, which lasted roughly 60 years, from 1880 to WWII & the beginning of Chinese communism. But, as Narcotic Culture shows, the real scandal in Chinese history wasn't the expansion of the drug trade by Britain in the early 19th century, but rather the failure of the British to grasp the consequences of prohibition. In an historical reversal, Frank Diktter, Lars Laamann & Zhou Xun tell this different story of the relationship between opium & the Chinese. They reveal that opium actually had few harmful effects on either health or longevity; in fact, it was prepared & appreciated in highly complex rituals with inbuilt constraints preventing excessive use. Opium was even used as a medicinal panacea in China before the availability of aspirin & penicillin. But as a result of the British effort to eradicate it, the Chinese turned from the relatively benign use of that drug to heroin, morphine, cocaine & countless other psychoactive substances. Narcotic Culture provides evidence that the transition from a tolerated opium culture to a system of prohibition produced a cure that was far worse than the disease. Delving into a history of drugs & their abuses, Narcotic Culture is part revisionist history of imperial & 20th-century Britain & part portrait of the dangers of prohibition. Acknowledgements Conventions Introduction The global spread of psychoactive substances c. 1600-1900 Opium before the 'Opium War' c. 1600-1840 Opium for the people: status, space & consumption c. 1840-1940 The best possible & sure shield: Opium, disease & epidemics c. 1840-1940 War on drugs: prohibition & the rise of narcophobia c. 1880-1940 Curing the addict: prohibition & detoxification c. 1880-1940 Pills & powders: the spread of semi-synthetic opiates c. 1900-40 Needle lore: the syringe in China c. 1890-1950 China's other drugs c. 1900-50 Conclusion Bibliography Character List Index Cover Page Acknowledgements Contents Page 1. Introduction 2. The Global Spread of Psychoactive Substances (c. 1600-1900) 3. Opium before the ‘Opium War’ (c 1600—1840) 4. Opium for the People: Status, Space and 5. ‘The Best Possible and Sure Shield’: Opium, Disease and Epidemics (c. 1840-1940) 6. War on Drugs: Prohibition and the Base of Narcophobia (c. 1880—1940) 7. Curing the Addict: Prohibition and Detoxification (c. 1880-1940) 8. Pills and Powders: The Spread of Semi-Synthetic Opiates (c. 1900-1940) 9. Needle Lore: The Syringe in China (c. 1890-1950) 10. China’s Other Drugs (c. 1900-1950) 11. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Character List Index In the Cambridge History of China John King Fairbank, doyen of modern Chinese studies, characterised the opium trade as 'the most long-continued and systematic international crime of modern times'.