The opium trade thrived during the reign of pharaohs Thutmose IV, Akhenaton, and Tutankhamen. In 330 BC, Alexander the Great brought opium to the Persians and the Indians. Starting around 1300, opium’s use was suppressed throughout Europe as “demonic,” but by 1527, it was again employed for medicinal purposes. As an anesthetic, opium was a great boon. But it was also used for recreational purposes and was involved in smuggling, drug trafficking, and other criminal enterprises. To this day, depending on its use, opium continues to be regarded as a benefit or a menace to society.
