Meaning
What does Copium mean?
Copium is a term used to refer to a fictional drug, derived from the portmanteau of the words “cope” and “opium”. It is a humorous meme, often used in a modified form of the Pepe the Frog meme, or various emotes. The meme serves as a metaphor for the mental processes that help individuals endure hardship. From dealing with losses and grieving over traumatic events, to simply being able to carry on in difficult times – “Copium” jokes about how we can find ways to manage our emotions when life throws us curveballs.
The term also carries an increased sense of relatability due to its widespread usage in the internet culture. Whether it’s used in the form of a GIF or a reaction image, “Copium” has become one of the most popular memes on the internet, allowing people to express their feelings about hardships through humor.
In conclusion, “Copium” is not only an amusing meme, but also a meaningful metaphor for how we can survive difficult moments in life. By using humor and wit, we can often find ways to better manage our emotions and ultimately come out stronger than before.
Origin
What's the origin of Copium?
The term was actually coined by rap artist Keak da Sneak in 2003, when he released his soundtrack album with the title “Copium”. However, it wasn’t until recently that it was discovered on the /int/ board of 4chan, on March 30th, 2018. A year later, a drawing of Pepe the Frog was uploaded to the /pol/ board in July 2019.
Since then, “Copium” has grown in popularity as more people have begun using it in conversations, posts, and memes online, dismissing people with accusing them of not being able to cope with reality.
Spread & Usage
How did Copium spread?
The meme began spreading fast in June 2020, as it spread from 4chan to sites like Reddit, Twitter and even 9GAG.
“Copium” was first defined on Urban Dictionary in October 2020, with a large amount of entries following since then.
It became a widely used internet meme, with a large number of variations and modifications appearing on websites, either as image macro memes, reaction GIFs, or even Twitch emotes. The term “Copium” has also spawned copious amounts of content online, with videos as well as songs choosing it as their title, while also appearing combined with the Hard to Swallow Pills meme.
Overall, “Copium” due to being an ingenious pairing of words, grew to be a widely popular concept online, adopted and reinterpreted by many, used in a plethora of contexts.
External resources
- Afkgaming.com – Where Did Copium Become Popular on Twitch Chat?
- Gamertweak.com – What Does Copium Mean In Twitch Chat & What’s Its Origin?