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Addicted to Pleasure

Brian Cox

Richard Downes

Addicted to Pleasure: Episode 2: Opium

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Opium

Episode 2

Episode 2: Opium

BBC One - Addicted to Pleasure, Opium

Brian Cox learns the origins and history of modern-day opium addiction.

Brian Cox delves into the history of addictive substances, travelling to China to learn how the seeds of modern-day opium addiction were planted during Britain's trading past.

Scotland is plagued with over 50,000 drug addicts and one of the roots of this addiction is the opium poppy. In this second episode, actor Brian Cox travels to China to discover how the seeds of this modern-day addiction were planted during the height of Britain's trading empire. Since then opium has fuelled the world's largest drug-smuggling operation, earned vast fortunes, triggered war with China and inspired medical breakthroughs. Brian Cox reveals how Britain unleashed the most dangerous of addictions on the world, and how the consequences still haunt us today.

BBC One Scotland

Brian Cox reveals the rich and controversial past of sugar, alcohol, tobacco and opium

Actor Brian Cox reveals the rich and controversial past of sugar, alcohol, tobacco and opium to uncover how the commercial exploitation of these products hooked the world

BBC One

BBC One is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964. It replaced BBC Television.

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Episode 2: Opium

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