It was in the post-civil war period that all kinds of drugs were legal - and along with this a growing abuse - which eventually led to laws and regulation.

as usual, it was never just one factor: thousands of civil war veterans were hooked on various drugs, the gilded age saw lots of money flowing thru the economy, further there were advances in chemistry - which created new drugs, and the marketing of patent medicines to the general public.

so in this discussion 1. research a patent medicine of the era and educate your peers as how this was used and what potential health hazard to the individual or community

2. make a case for or against these (and other factors) in the development of america’s first drug laws, (and thereby concepts of public health).

3.with millions spent on tv drug ads - is there a 21th century parallel, but with more sophistication, to the post civil war drug era ?