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conversation sparked publications about the subject from which Coleridge emerged as the most
recognizable and notable figure. In fact, many of the works were published by personal friends
and colleagues of the literary icon. The standout title among these publications was “Confessions
of an English Opium Eater” written by his friend Thomas De Quincey, also the author of
“Coleridge and Opiate Use” with Coleridge’s participation. Effects from this book would be
staggeringly large leaving an impression that stands to this day. Theodore Dalrymple, writer,
retired prison doctor, and psychiatrist shared his thoughts on the subject. He claims that due to
the literary influence of Coleridge and De Quincey, the book’s repercussion within the addiction
field is far and away the heaviest to date; continuing, he describes the work as evasive, dishonest,
dramatized, and self-serving with exaggerations and pleas that have been repeated by Baudelaire,
Burroughs, and even modern entertainment like the film “Trainspotting” (Dalrymple 126).
De Quincey’s work raised the eyebrows of government, prompting official inquiries into
opiate use. Those inquiries would lead to new or revised legislation on the matter, but not before
much debate. Many people simply saw no issue with opiate use. Amongs them were people of
high standing and influence, including several physicians. The following quote is representative
of the feelings at the time:
Many pointed to the contrast between the peaceful and apathetic opium eater and his
much more violent, threatening, alcoholic counterpart. ‘Where others say “damn”, they
say “bless”, and in fact, you may almost know an opium-eater by his use of the word
“blessed”… its result was a state in which people dream of virtue, and goodness, and
piety, and do nothing (Berridge 282).
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