The british wanted chinese goods, but they basely wanted to pay in opium instead of money. That was the problem. And then there's lots of opium floating round, and there are consequences,. But it comes from somebody basically wanting to trade. I worry about calling addiction a disease because i think it's a double edged sort. To call addiction a disease has served as a important plank in advocacy efforts. It helps to argue for insurance coverage or for hospitals to treat people with addiction.