The Civil War, Veterans, and America’s First Opioid Crisis (Virtual Program)

The Irish American Heritage Museum will host “Opium Slavery – The Civil War, Veterans, and America’s First Opioid Crisis,” a virtual program with Dr. Jonathan Jones set for Tuesday, February 8th.

This talk will look at the hidden history of an opioid addiction epidemic that plagued veterans in aftermath of the Civil War – America’s first opioid crisis. Employing gender, social, and medical history, Jones investigates the causes and tragic consequences of drug addiction for Civil War veterans and their families, as well as the radical responses by the American medical community and government authorities to the addiction crisis.

Jonathan Jones is Assistant Professor with the Department of History at the Virginia Military Institute.

This program will begin at 7 pm and will be held via Zoom. To watch the program, click here.