Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

The Dark History of London’s Drug World

Mar 11, 2025

Join Professor Toby Seddon, a leading expert in drug policy from University College London, as he unravels the tumultuous drug scene in post-WW1 Soho. Discover how cocaine and morphine slipped from medicinal use to the trendy nightclubs and opium dens. Delve into compelling tales of female gangs ruling the nightlife, the evolution of Britain's drug perception, and the sensationalized lives of infamous 'dope kings.' The discussion also sheds light on the societal anxieties that shaped drug legislation during this vibrant yet risky era.

35:38

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Episode guests

Toby Seddon

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The emergence of recreational drug use in post-WW1 London reflected a societal shift in attitudes towards pleasure and peril.

Media sensationalism around drug use illustrated deeper anxieties about gender roles and race in a transforming 1920s society.

Deep dives

The Dark Side of 1920s Soho

The 1920s in London's Soho was characterized by a vibrant nightlife that belied a dangerous underbelly fueled by drug use. Clubs were often supplied with substances like cocaine and morphine, creating a culture where pleasure came with peril. Establishments run by figures such as Kate Merrick and Brilliant Chang thrived on this cocktail of excitement, leading patrons to pay dearly for their indulgences. The interplay of sex, drugs, and jazz set the stage for a thrilling yet treacherous era, where many risked their reputations and even their lives in pursuit of hedonism.

Intro

2min

Exploring the Hedonistic Drug Culture of 1920s Soho

3min

The Evolution of Drug Perception in Britain

9min

Historical Context of Drug Legislation in London

3min

Drugs, Society, and a Shifting Narrative

11min

Unpacking the Myths of London's Dope Kings

4min

The Drug Availability and Regulation in 1920s London

4min

Travel back to post-WW1 London, when sex, drugs and music was exploding in Soho... causing a national moral panic.

The drugs of choice? Cocaine and morphine. Still used by doctors for questionable medicinal reasons (cough syrup anyone?!) but now also taken in nightclubs and opium dens by socialites around Soho.

This week, Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Professor Toby Seddon to talk about the history of drugs, the people who were selling and taking them, and how the government attempted to crack down.

Historic Soho has been brought to life in the new BBC show Dope Girls, which tells the story of Soho when female gangs ran the nightclubs after the First World War. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer now.

All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

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