How did American and British trade in opium affect the Chinese?

A) It created a wealthy middle class in China.
B) The Chinese government prospered from the trade.
C) It devastated Chinese society by creating addicts and crime.
D) It created some social problems but mostly it had a positive effect.

The opium trade, largely controlled by British merchants, led to widespread addiction in China, severely impacting social and economic structures, and contributing to the destabilization of Chinese society. This resulted in significant social and economic problems, including widespread addiction, crime, and corruption, which weakened the Qing dynasty and contributed to the eventual Opium Wars.