An
opium den was an establishment where
opium was sold and smoked. Opium dens were prevalent in many parts of the world in the 19th century, most notably
China,
Southeast Asia,
North America and
France. Throughout the
West, opium dens were frequented by and associated with the Chinese, because the establishments were usually run by
Chinese who supplied the opium as well as prepared it for visiting non-Chinese smokers. Most opium dens kept a supply of opium paraphernalia such as the specialized pipes and lamps that were necessary to smoke the drug. Patrons would recline in order to hold the long
opium pipes over
oil lamps that would heat the drug until it vaporized, allowing the smoker to inhale the vapors. Opium dens in China were frequented by all levels of society, and their opulence or simplicity reflected the financial means of the patrons. In urban areas of the
United States, particularly on the
West Coast, there were opium dens that mirrored the best to be found in China, with luxurious trappings and female attendants. For the
working class, there were also many low-end dens with sparse furnishings. These latter dens were more likely to admit non-Chinese smokers.