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Kōrero: Drugs

A laudanum and opium user

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A laudanum and opium user

In the late 19th century laudanum, which was opium suspended in alcohol, was more commonly used as a medical pick-me-up by middle-class women than by any other social group. Occasionally, as in this case from Auckland in July 1890, such women became addicted to the drug with unfortunate consequences.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past

Reference: Star, 25 July 1890, p. 3

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Jock Phillips, Drugs – Colonial drug-taking, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/document/39558/a-laudanum-and-opium-user (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Jock Phillips, i tāngia i te 15 November 2012.