In 1804, German pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner successfully isolated morphine from opium, marking the first time an active alkaloid was extracted from a plant. This groundbreaking achievement revolutionized pain management and the field of pharmacology, as morphine became a key medication for treating severe pain. Sertürner's work laid the foundation for modern medicine's understanding of opioids and their effects on the human body.

The isolation of morphine from opium by Sertürner in 1804 introduced new literary depictions of altered states and addiction. This development influenced 19th-century poetry, where themes of suffering and relief became prominent as writers grappled with the implications of drug use.