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Morphine and ‘morbid craving’

When morphine was first created in the early 1800s it transformed our relationship to pain and suffering. But it also brought about an addiction epidemic. Historian Mike Jay tells Bridget Kendall why medical professionals were among the first addicts.

Image: Gloved hand holding liquid morphine sulphate glass vial and syringe
Credit: Universal Images Group/Getty Images

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Duration:

2 minutes