When many people think of patent medicines, they conjure up images of wagons going town to town with sales agents promoting “cure alls,” or of the days of the old west when these drugs gained large-scale popularity. Many people may not realize, however, that patent medicines of the late 1800s and early 1900s contained dangerous drugs like heroin and opium, often without knowledge to the user. The drugs were heavily advertised, and their abuse helped contribute to the establishment of today’s drug regulations that help safeguard millions of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
Read more about Patent Medicines with Addictive Substances Necessitated Food and Drug Act
