Parlance of our Times: ‘Copium’
This column explores the etymology and cultural usage of the term 'copium,' a slang word describing a metaphorical drug used to cope with unpleasant realities. It traces the term's evolution from 'hopium' and its prevalence in modern political and fan-based online discourse.
Why it matters
Understanding internet slang is essential for analyzing modern political communication and the psychology of online fan communities.
Matthew Rhys in Widow’s Bay. Photo Illustration by The Globe and Mail
Welcome to Parlance of our Times, a new biweekly pop-culture etymology column that unpacks a word or phrase that is suddenly everywhere. This week: “Copium”
An imaginary drug that enables denial or rationalization of unpleasant realities.
As we stumble forward on this, the darkest timeline – where the leader of the free world is a cartoon mob boss; there’s a breakneck race to build machines that might kill us all; and the aforementioned mob boss says not to worry because he’s in charge of the killing machines – there are some days when just coping with it all is the best you can do. And if there are days when you can’t even manage that, a few deep inhales of copium ought to do the trick.
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