Opium: Publicity stunt?

In high school when studying "Kubla Khan", it was always presented as the drug-induced poem. And in some strange way, that made it all the more fasicinating, mysterious, and cool. I think this may have been exactly Coleridge's aim. While the poem is difficult to understand and has a "creative" thought pattern, it seems to be much too coherent and easily explained when looked at closely. It seems impossible that such a work of genius could be nothing more than the effects of a drug-induced high.

The story behind "Kubla Khan" does contribute to its popularity, however. Sometimes a little scandalous press is exactly what is needed to draw attention to a work. Just as now, celebrities often perform publicity stunts or pay to be written up in gossip magazines when their career needs a boost. I believe this may have been exactly what Coleridge was trying to do and it worked. Now, whenever "Kubla Khan" is thought of it is inevitably connect with opium. In some ways, Coleridge's plan has to be admired as a very shrewd career choice.