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Poe did not use or have an addiction to drugs. The idea that Poe was a user of or was addicted to opium is a misconception that should be refuted. There are several reasons for this error. One is that some of the narrators of Poe's stories did use opium in the story. This has been projected by some to mean that Poe himself was using the drug, especially because Poe tended to narrate his stories in the first person. Poe had some narrators use drugs simply for literary effect within the stories.
Another reason is that some critics of his work simply used that as an excuse for their criticism. One critic deemed Poe's Tales as the "outpourings of an opium eater," but without stating that he actually was an opium eater, i.e. user.
Other reasons for not believing Poe used opium are statements from various people that knew Poe. Thomas Dunn English, a physician and Poe adversary, never accused him of it. English and Poe had been on good terms at one time and had several meetings both at English's home and at Poe's home. English at one time said that he would have known Poe was an opium user either by his physician's expertise or regular observation by his visiting with Poe so many times.
A Dr. John Carter knew and had examined Poe and stated in a letter to G.E. Woodberry, author of the book "Life of Poe", 1909, that he never knew Poe to use opium in any instance and never heard Poe mention it. Woodberry replied that he himself believed that Poe did use opium during his times away from drinking, but Woodberry never met Poe, so this is but speculation and conjecture on his part. In a later biography of Poe, Woodberry's conjecture was erroneously ascribed to Dr. Carter. This "biography" makes it seem like a doctor familiar with Poe had verified that Poe used opium.
Poe himself did make one mention of using laudanum. In a letter to Annie Richmond, Poe stated that he had attempted suicide by using laudanum. This is hardly proof that he was addicted to it. Laudanum was a commonly used medicine for pain relief at the time. Nothing remotely suggests that Poe used it other than for proper medical reasons.
What else can I help you with?
How old were Edgar Allan Poe's parents when they died?
David Poe, Jr was 27 years old, and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe was probably 24 years old.
How old is Lovi Poe?
Lovi Poe is 22 years old (birthdate: February 11, 1989).
How old is Ted Poe?
Ted Poe is 62 years old (birthdate: October 13, 1948).
How old was Edgar Allan Poe when his brother died?
Edgar Allan Poe was two years old when his brother, William Henry Leonard Poe, died.
How old was Edgar allan poe's mother when she died And how?
Edgar Allan Poe's mother, Eliza Poe, died in 1811 when she was around 24 years old. She passed away from tuberculosis. Her death had a significant impact on Poe, as he was only 2 years old at the time.
How old was Poe when Elizabeth died?
Poe was 2 years eleven months old when Eliza, his natural mother, died.
How old were Edgar Allan Poe's parents when he died?
All four of Poe's natural and foster parents died before Poe.
Who did poe marry when he was 27?
Edgar Allan Poe married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm, when he was 27 years old. Virginia's mother was Poe's aunt, and they were married in 1836.
How old was Edgar Allan Poe when his mother got tuberculosis?
Poe's natural mother did not have tuberculosis. Elizabeth Poe died on December 8, 1811, when Poe was 2 years old of a lung ailment that a family member stated years later was pneumonia.
Is Edgar Allan Poe single?
No, Edgar Allan Poe is not single.
How old was Virginia Clemm when Edgar Poe died?
Virginia died before Poe 2 years after "The Raven" was published
How old was Edgar Allan Poe when his real mother died?
Poe was two years, eleven months old when his natural mother died.
