Understanding What Was Mattie Earp Addicted To: The Tragic History of Laudanum
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4 min read
According to a 19th-century report, approximately two-thirds of those addicted to medicinal opiates were female. The tragic story of Mattie Earp, common-law wife of Wyatt Earp, is a stark example of this, as historical accounts and the 1993 film *Tombstone* confirm **what was Mattie Earp addicted to**: the powerful opiate tincture, laudanum. Her dependency, fueled by personal hardship and the medical practices of her time, led to a fatal overdose in 1888.
