Opium is a habit-forming substance extracted from the immature seedpods of the poppy plant. Historically known as laudanum when prepared, opium's derivatives include medications like paregoric, used to manage diarrhea. For centuries, opium served as a pain reliever in the Middle East and Asia. Its use spread to Europe and its colonies during the 18th century, becoming a key component in easily accessible over-the-counter medicines. This accessibility led to widespread addiction. Many injured soldiers from the Civil War were administered morphine for pain relief, contributing to the addiction problem. By 1900, over 200,000 people in the United States were estimated to be addicted to opium and its derivatives. In response, the US Congress enacted legislation in 1909 to ban the production and sale of opium.
