"Although the Chinese had used opium as a medicine, there was no widespread addiction before the British arrived"

This quote by Robert Trout is referring to the history of opium in China. Before the British shown up, opium was utilized as a medicine in China, however there was no widespread addiction to the drug. The British, nevertheless, saw a chance to make a profit and began to import opium into China, resulting in a significant increase in opium addiction. This had a devastating effect on Chinese society, leading to social and financial problems. The British opium trade was eventually stopped, but the damage had actually currently been done. The quote acts as a reminder of the consequences of unchecked greed and exploitation. It also serves as an alerting to be mindful of the potential repercussions of introducing foreign substances into a society.