[varmintman]

In 1880 there were no drug laws in America and no serious drug problems. How bright do you really need to be to figure that one out??

[heartwood]

There were cases of chronic constipation and there were babies who went to sleep with a dose of soothing syrup and never woke up.

In general, you are correct.

I would also say we were a different people and a different culture then. In 1887 when Nellie Bly faked insanity, rival newspapers covered the tale of an amnesiac, deranged young woman for a week - this after her initial “episode”, before her expose. NYC was a large city even then but mental illness of that kind was rare and sensational.

Now we ethnically and religiously diverse, highly mobile, highly stimulated by the media, far more likely to experience a sense of alienation.

[GladesGuru]

“In 1880 there were no drug laws in America and no serious drug problems. How bright do you really need to be to figure that one out??”

Wherein varmintman got the War On Drugs right between the eyes - good shoootin’!