title: Lessons from an English opium eater: Thomas De Quincey reconsidered.
abstract: Thomas De Quincey published his autobiographical Confessions of an English Opium Eater in 1821. The publication both fascinated and outraged its 19th-century readers. Heated debate followed on such topics as: the causality of opiate use; self-inflicted suffering and responsibility; the impact of availability and environment; therapeutic addiction; controlled use; the emergence of dependence; tolerance; withdrawal techniques; hazards; the impact of advertising. Many of these topics remain subjects of debate and causes for concern today. We would be well advised to study the questions and debates of a century and a half ago.
authors.affiliation: Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, Maudsley Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strang
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000266:history*; D009892:Opium / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D009892:Opium