Anti-opium Campaign

The Anti-opium Campaign refers to various efforts, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, aimed at reducing or eliminating the production, distribution, and consumption of opium. These campaigns arose in response to widespread addiction and social problems caused by opium use. Notably, the Opium Wars in China (1839-1842 and 1856-1860) were conflicts partly driven by China’s efforts to ban opium trade, which was largely controlled by British traders. Ultimately, the movement led to international treaties regulating drug use and the eventual establishment of laws against narcotics to promote public health and social order.