Quote:
Originally Posted by anamardoll
Just listened to the audio collection, and Watson scolds him for opiate-use in one of the stories right after SiS. Holmes basically says that he has ADD and the opium helps. Not in those words, of course. I'll try to dig up a reference.
EDIT: Found it, "The Sign of Four" -- Holmes is using cocaine in the scene, but Watson notes that he's been also using morphine (an opiate) frequently. Watson's statement could be read as saying that the cocaine and morphine injections are a once-a-day habit -- I have no idea where that falls on the "casual/not-casual" drug scale.
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Opiates, yes; opium, no. The difference may not mean much to us, but it was a distinction then, largely for cultural reasons. Opium dens were frequently rife with crime, and men would spend days at a time in them. Try
The Man with the Twisted Lip.
Spoiler:
"Upper Swandam-lane is a vile alley lurking behind the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of London Bridge. Between a slop shop and a gin shop, approached by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search.... Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads thrown back and chins pointing upwards....
'I suppose, Watson,' said he, 'that you imagine I have added opium-smoking to cucaine injections and all the other little weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical views.'"
Holmes, who is in disguise on an investigation, goes on to reference the rife criminality and murder in such places.