Not really the equivalent of synthetic cannabis etc.  There's a more direct line to modern use of opiates in medicine, and subsequent abuse of those substances. 

Bayer marketed "Heroin" with the claim it was "less addictive" than morphine (the main active ingredient in laudanum).

A similar thing has happened in recent times with marketing of synthetic opioids - and then an absurd situation where once addicted, obtaining long-term supply and increased quantity becomes problematic, to feed the addiction the user resorts to illicit supply of either legally manufactured opiates sold on black markets, or heroin.  Consequence being ~50,000 deaths per year (and increasing) in the USA from opiate overdose.  On top of the overdose deaths, unknown numbers of individuals infected with HIV and hepatitis through needle sharing, deaths, crime, and despair from the high cost of obtaining illicit supply.

In that case - (transition from medically prescribed legitimate use of opiates to addiction) - then IMO it shouldn't be called "recreational drug abuse" and is probably similar to 19th century use of laudanum - starting off as a legitimate contemporary medical treatment and becoming an all-consuming dependance - a path commenced without any intent by the victim to use it "recreationally".

Life was less puritan than it is today.

Geektastic:

 

Life was less puritan than it is today.

 

Hmmmmm....

I think I get what you're saying, but OTOH while poets were waxing lyrical thanks to laudanum (shining bright - if not for long), "Victorianism" is in my mind associated with puritan concepts - like long table cloths to hide sculpted legs - lest they invoked erotic emotions. 

NSFW - warning.

kingdragonfly: I'm not recommended anyone recreationally use opiate, but here's an interesting study:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Park

"Alexander's hypothesis was that drugs do not cause addiction, and that the apparent addiction to opiate drugs commonly observed in laboratory rats exposed to them is attributable to their living conditions, and not to any addictive property of the drug itself."

The result seems to be that stressful/un-stimulating/isolated living conditions predisposed rats to addiction. 

That seems to be backed up by who and where addiction is most common in people.

Same old story. 

There are groups of people who due to socio-economic circumstances are on average more vulnerable to a range of issues and - due to economic deprivation, less able to manage through the issues.