Addictive Disorders

I'm currently taking a course about addictive disorders and am reading an interesting history of drugs and alcohol use. I wanted to share some tidbits that I found most striking.

First, here is an advertisement for laughing gas from 1845 (I don't know how to center text...). Bold emphasis mine:

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A GRAND EXHIBITION OF THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY INHALING NITROUS OXIDE, EXHILERATING, OR LAUGHING GAS

will be given at Masonic Hall Saturday evening 5pm

30 Gallons of gas will be prepared and administered to all in the audience who desire to inhale it.

Men will be invited from the audience to protect those under the influence of the gas from injuring themselves or others. This course is adopted thatno apprehension of danger may be entertained. Probably no one will attempt to fight.

N.B. The gas will be administered only to gentlemen of the first respectiability. The object is to make the entertainment in every respect, a genteel affair.
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The second thing I found to be unbelievable was an ad in a Sears catalogue from 1897 for a drug kit (retail price $2.75). The kit looks like a large flask. When opened, it contains a reusable syringe and several virals of drugs containing opium, cocaine, and heroin.

What a party the 19th century must have been.