Furthermore, some of these patent drugs contained a high amount of alcohol, opium, morphine, or cocaine, and were feasibly dangerous and addictive (Potter, 2014). With the popularity of these patent drugs grew drug abuse, however, in contrast to many of today’s drug abusers, the typical nineteenth-century abusers were white middle or upper-class women (Levinthal, 2012). Women were featured in advertisements for patent medicines to boost their sales, claiming to cure women for whatever
Furthermore, some of these patent drugs contained a high amount of alcohol, opium, morphine, or cocaine, and were feasibly dangerous and addictive (Potter, 2014). With the popularity of these patent drugs grew drug abuse, however, in contrast to many of today’s drug abusers, the typical nineteenth-century abusers were white middle or upper-class women (Levinthal, 2012). Women were featured in advertisements for patent medicines to boost their sales, claiming to cure women for whatever