Final answer:
The opium trade fueled addiction issues in China and had significant social and economic consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The opium trade was instrumental in fueling addiction issues. The British and other European powers, most notably the British East India Company, began smuggling opium into China, which led to a significant increase in opium addiction among the Chinese population. This addiction problem had severe social and economic consequences for China. The Chinese government tried to stop the opium trade, but the British responded with two wars, resulting in China being forced to open its ports to foreign trade, including the trade in opium.