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Opium Smoking in China

            Smoking opium in China was a major problem that touched all levels of society and had tremendous impact on the Chinese economy. Discussed first will be when smoking of opium began in China, and early instances of it occurring. Following the beginning is when smoking was noticed as a problem, and who at that point and time was smoking and probable reasons that lead them to do so. Of course recognizing the problem lead to discussions on prohibition; this will be looked at next. Finally the economic ramifications of opium smoking will be looked at. First the sheer size of the opium market and then the lasting impact opium has had on the Chinese economy.
             Opium first began as an offshoot of tobacco smoking. After tobacco had been introduced to China it eventually became a cash crop. Portuguese had originally hoped to ship Brazilian tobacco to China but it quickly became a national habit and was grown in fields outside major cities walls. Very early evidence of opium smoking goes back as far as 1617, but first real significant appearances don't occur until 1723-1724, when the smoking of opium mixed with plants or tobacco is described. Charles de Constant discusses what he calls widespread smoking or opium and tobacco in Canton in 1780, and by 1816 it is noted by Abel that tobacco steeped in opium is common in all parts of the Empire. .
             Ch'en Ch'i-yuan then states that this is not really the smoking of opium but rather there are two types of opium. One form is called madak, or not pure opium, as it is prepared by boiling the opium with tobacco and yields 0.2% morphia (the equivalent to a few inhalations of marijuana). The other form being the pure opium, yielding 9-10% morphia; causes smokers of pure opium to reject madak.
             The Qing emperor did not take action to stop the spread of addiction until early 19th century when the problem became apparent in court. In 1813 there where a number of palace guards who smoked.


Essays Related to Opium Smoking in China

1. Opium is an Addiction

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2. Narcotic Culture Review - A History of Drugs in China

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9. Legalizing Hemp

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