After visiting Egypt and Turkey, French explorer and naturalist Pierre Belon comments on the use of opium among the Turkish population. He writes: "There is not a Turk who would not purchase opium with his last coin; he carries the drug on him in war and in peace. They eat opium because they think they will thus become more courageous and have less fear of the dangers of war. At the time of war, such large quantities are purchased it is difficult to find any left."
Source: Martin, B. (1996). Opium: A History.
| Drugs: | Opium (morphine, heroin, opioids) |
|---|---|
| Regions: | Egypt, Turkey |
| Topics: | Cultural factors (social, religious, ritual), Drugs and war |
