[Ken H]

Well look at this. Here's another figure that is in line with those DEA estimates =>

The Institute of Medicine estimated that by 1900, perhaps 300,000 Americans were addicted to opiates.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/international/question-2-what-history-opioid-addiction-in-united-states

Now, 300,000 addicts in 1900 is less than the 400,000 in 1880. So according to the heroes in charge of Fighting Drugs, addiction was declining by 1900.

[ConservingFreedom]

According to DL the federal National Institute on Drug Abuse is "Libertarian".

[DiogenesLamp]

Already got into this foolishness with "Conflating Freedom."

You are comparing estimates "300,000" with real numbers "400,000". The "400,000" number comes from records of prescriptions issued to both Union and Confederate soldiers during/after the Civil War.

The 400,000 are real numbers. The "estimate" is not.

Drawing conclusions by comparing real numbers to estimates (really? A conclusion based on two data points? What are you five or something?) is nonsense.