Opiates do not always (or even usually) cause psychological addiction after only a few uses. Also studies have shown that when used for pain, opiates will cause physical dependence (if used regularly), but regularly psychological addiction. I've been on opiates (granted lesser ones like vicodin and percocet, not sure they compare to laudanum in strength) for up to a month at a time for pain, taking them several times a day and I did not experience either physical or psychological addiction, nor did I lose the ability to feel pleasure, and as soon as my pain was low enough I stopped taking them without problem. Yes opiates are highly addictive and yes they do cause changes to brain, but I think the rest of your facts are the kinds of misleading things often taught by the DARE program (at least how it worked when I was a kid).
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