<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
I've heard that there was an opium problem with Asian people, back during the Gold Rush in California. Is that true?
<|assistant|>
Yes. During the Gold Rush, there was an increasing amount of opium smuggled into the United States from Asia and particularly from China. Opium use became widespread among laborers in California who were looking for relief from the physically and emotionally demanding work. It had an adverse effect on their health and their lives. The issue even led to the passage of the first Federal anti-opium law in 1879. In addition, San Francisco became the focal point of a large-scale addiction crisis which ultimately led to the adoption of some of the first modern drug policies.