In the early 1900s, when you could buy morphine at the corner drugstore, addicts took morphine daily and went about their lives, living out a normal lifespan.

In the early 1900s, when you could buy morphine at the corner drugstore, addicts took morphine daily and went about their lives, living out a normal lifespan. Because of the iron law of prohibition, under prohibition, only the most potent, dangerous forms of the drug are available, so addicts use them, overdose, die, etc. Look at the problems with lack of beer and wine during prohibition, and the availability of moonshine and methanol