The Tangled History of Opium

Our opioid epidemic is nothing new, as the Chinese could tell you—they fought for years to keep British opium out of their country, to no avail. So many cultures have tackled the double-edged sword of opium use. It's relieved more pain than it's caused, according to Blistein, but it certainly has caused a great deal of pain. Guest: David Blistein, co-author with John H. Halpern of "Opium: How an Ancient Flower Shaped and Poisoned our World"