The Truth About Opium: Being a Refutation of the Fallacies of the Anti-Opium Society and a Defence of the Indo-China Opium Trade

The Truth About Opium, published in 1883 by William H. Brereton, is a critical examination of the Indo-China opium trade and a rebuttal to the Anti-Opium Society's claims. Drawing on his firsthand experience in Hong Kong, Brereton argues that the negative portrayal of opium and its effects on Chinese society is exaggerated and based on misconceptions. He contends that moderate use of opium does not lead to widespread addiction or societal harm, providing a defense of the trade and its socio-economic implications in the 19th century.