Did Edgar Allan Poe abuse alcohol or drugs?

Answer 1

Not Regularly and Not AddictedNo, he did not according to the Edgar Allan Poe Society.

More detail...

Poe did not regularly use or have an addiction to drugs. The idea that Poe was a regular 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 was addicted to 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.

On the other hand, it has bee written that Poe in his mid twenties while working at the "Southern Literary Messenger" began some experimentation with opium along with poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. While he may have experimented with it, the best evidence is that he did not regularly use it and was certainly not addicted to it.

No, he did not. Nothing remotely suggests that Poe used it other than for proper medical reasons.

Alternative vew and additional information:

Poe's drug use is not recorded. Though it's known that he was an alcoholic and was often drunk. Also, it's believed by some that he may have been drugged by someone else when he was found four days before his death.

Answer 2

Poe was not an alcoholic per se, however he had some extended periods of time when he drank to excess. There were also periods of time when he abstained from alcohol. Poe sometimes suffered from bouts with depression, such as when his wife died, and turned to drinking to get away from such troubles. Poe had enemies in his lifetime and some stooped to accusing him of being a drunk both before and after he died.
Do you mean alcoholic?

Answer 3

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.

Poe had frequent periods of drunkenness, however he also had extended periods of sobriety. Enemies of Poe accused him of drinking to excess many times and alcohol did figure into some theories about his death. The facts are not conclusive that he was an alcoholic or drunk all the time. Considering his body of work, it is absurd to suggest that he was constantly inebriated.

Alcohol is one of the many possible ways he died.

Poe did have a drinking problem and was known to drink to excess on many occasions sometimes over extended periods of times. His use of alcohol has figured in as one of the theories of his death, but no one knows this for certain. The official reason for his death was "congestion of the brain" not alcohol usage.
Yes, he abused both alcohol and drugs.

Answer 4

Yes, Edgar Allan Poe struggled with alcohol addiction throughout his life. There is also speculation that he may have used opium, based on some references in his writings.

Answer 5

Yes. Many people believe that drinking is what caused his death.

Answer 6

He became a alcholic when his wife died.

Answer 7

yes he did drink alcohol

Answer 8

Yes