I've heard that there was an opium problem with Asian people, back during the Gold Rush in California. Is that true?
user
It is true that there was an opium problem during the Gold Rush in California. In the late 1840s, Chinese immigrants transported opium to the West Coast and large amounts of it were sold illegally in cities such as San Francisco. This problem was especially amplified with the outbreak of the Civil War, leading to increased demand for the drug in America as it began to be used recreationally.
assistant
I've heard that there was an opium problem with Asian people, back during the Gold Rush in California. Is that true?
user
Yes, it is true. During the Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, many Chinese people came to the United States to work in low paid jobs such as laundry services and manual labor. Due to limited employment opportunities they encountered discrimination, often becoming impoverished. As a result, many developed an addiction to opium as a means of escaping their daily struggles.  Opium dens and opium joints sprang up everywhere in Chinatowns during this time and opium smoking quickly spread into other ethnic communities in California such as Mexican Americans and native Native Americans..
assistant
I've heard that there was an opium problem with Asian people, back during the Gold Rush in California. Is that true?