Abuse of Wushi Powder in Old China: Archival Analysis using Qualitative Approach

Substance abuse leads to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is not yet having any effective treatment for the drug abusers or any effective strategy in government policy. Drug researchers have long understood that there can be long-term waves of greater and lesser drug use and that upswings can involve epidemic-like spread. This article focuses the period at which Wushi powder was abused in Old China from Han dynasty to Tang dynasty, especially epidemic in Wei-Jin dynasty. Qualitative research approach in historical study using content analysis is used in this study. The major limitation is the shortage of relevant document in archival search. It is impossible to reach the “thickness ” at description as expected in scrupulous qualitative research. This study still can delineate the abusive nature of Wushi powder and its epidemic phenomenon compatible to diffusion model. Wushi powder has similarities compared with the contemporary abusive psychoactive substance in its masterfulness and determining motive: but it is not conclusive in its craving, tolerance and abstinence syndrome aspects. Its physical and psychiatric effects, particular the heat intolerance side effect, are comparable with th