Mind Hacks linked today to a page with some really interesting pictures of old over the counter products that contained cocaine, opium, morphine and other now illegal substances. Here’s a bit from the Department of Psychology at the University at Buffalo:

During the mid to late 19th century, many manufacturers proudly proclaimed that their products contained cocaine or opium. A few, like Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup for infants which contained morphine, were more guarded in divulging their principal ingredients. By the beginning of the 20th century, problems with habitual use of cocaine and opiates was becoming increasingly apparent. This led to the removal of these substances from some products (e.g., Coca Cola) and to the introduction of the Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) in the United States which required the listing of ingredients on product labels. Nonetheless, standard narcotic remedies like paregoric remained readily available into the early 20th century, and Benzedrine inhalers were marketed without prescription until the early 1950s. Codeine wasn’t removed from most over-the-counter cough suppressants until the early 1980s.

  I posted earlier on the iPod passing beer as the “it” item on campus. Apparently then the popular thing to do was smoke opium, trap yourself in between your roommate’s bed and the wall and play the accordion. I guess some things never change.