One single example is by definition utterly insufficient to establish what is "normal." Even the DEA isn't dumb enough to say 21st century America is identical to 19th century China.
Your response doesn't make sense. One single example of a person getting their head blown off is plenty enough information to decide that the same thing will happen to someone else who sticks their head in a cannon. (And it doesn't matter if they are a 19th century Chinese person, or a 21st century American. The same stupid act, yields the same stupid result.)
If I recall correctly, by 1905 50% of the Adult male population of Manchuria was addicted to opium.