It's so weird to see the leading heroin story phrased like a hypothetical, when:
1. Heroin itself was marketed as a "non-addictive morphine substitute", and sold to the public. It didn't become a controlled substance until 1914 (according to Wikipedia)
2. The opioid crisis was basically started and perpetuated by Purdue pharma, again marketing Oxycodone with the label “Delayed absorption as provided by OxyContin tablets, is believed to reduce the abuse liability of a drug.” and other more egregious advertising.
3. Britain went to war with China twice to force the Qing dynasty to allow them to sell opium there.
4. President Teddy Roosevelt's grandfather made a ton of money in the opium trade.
It's supposed to be sort of shocking hypothetical, except actually that's basically the history of the actual drug.
1. Heroin itself was marketed as a "non-addictive morphine substitute", and sold to the public. It didn't become a controlled substance until 1914 (according to Wikipedia) 2. The opioid crisis was basically started and perpetuated by Purdue pharma, again marketing Oxycodone with the label “Delayed absorption as provided by OxyContin tablets, is believed to reduce the abuse liability of a drug.” and other more egregious advertising. 3. Britain went to war with China twice to force the Qing dynasty to allow them to sell opium there. 4. President Teddy Roosevelt's grandfather made a ton of money in the opium trade.
It's supposed to be sort of shocking hypothetical, except actually that's basically the history of the actual drug.