Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-22
Misuse in the United States.

III seems clear as concerns the CONT
mental United States that neither treaty,
tariff, excise nor other laws bore so heay-
lily on the opium traffic or on those en-
gagged in it as to regulate the importation
ana conflne the use of crude or medicinal
opium to legitimate medical channels. On
the contrary, vast amounts of this form
or the drug have poured in ever-increas-
ing quantities into the United States
While the opium smoking habit outlawed
Dy nearly every state and municipality in
the Union, appears TO have been encour-
aged by the tariff and excise laws per-
mlttlng its importation and manufacture
In addition to the steady growth of the
misuse of opium, an unforeseen and al
most strictly American vice has sprung
INTO existence during the last twenty
years, adding its terrorS to the drug prob
lem which confronts the American people
today. This has been brought about by
the unrestricted Importation of coca
leaves and the unregulated manufacture
and distribution of cocaine, a substance
OF no real use except in the hands of the
surgeon
1t is shown that since the establish
ment of civil power in the Philippines
both the federal and the Philippians GOV
ernmenfs have made steady and sustained
effort to prohibit the use of smoking
opium In the islands and to regulate the
use of medicinal opium to legitimate pur-
poses. The conclusion in regard to the
Philippines is that the prohibitory law.
effective on the LIST of March, 1905. has
reduced the opium evil from 60 to q, pcr
cent, but that 1t cannot be wholly ef-
fective until there is some international
action to prevent the shipment OF the
drug to the islands from opium producing
countries.
1t Is declared that since opium was first
enumerated In our customs returns luere
has been an importation Of II into the
United States out of all proportion to our
growth in population and the needs OF
the American people. The startling fact
Is developed that in each decade there
mas been a persistently larger per cent in
crease in the importation of all forms NJ
opium than in population -
The report attributes the enormous mis-
use OF habit-forming drugs in the United
States to several causes, carelessness or
ignorance on the part of the people 10
ineffective state laws. to the INABILITY OF
states with good laws to protect them
selves against the clandestine introduce
ton or the drugs from neighborinr or
distant states. and therefore I'm a larger
sense 10 the lack of control by the fed
eral government of the Importation man
ufacture and interstate traffic In them.
Federal Law Advised.
The advisability Of federal action is dis
cussed- 1t is pointed out that until the
states have uniform and effective laws TO
control the use Of these drugs within the
states It Is necessary for the federal gov
eminent to act by passing some measure
that will regulate the Interstate traffic
in them. and by an exertion of the fed
eral taxing power prevent the intrastate
manufacture of smoking opium
The proposed act for federal control of
the interstate traffic in opium and other
habit-formins drugs submitted with the
report is expected to accomplish the de-
sired object II passed and approved The
act has been submitted to the chairman
of the legislative committees of the
wholesale and retail drug trade. to many
prominent medical men, to the presidents
of the state medical associations and the
state boards OF pharmacy. Ii has. re-
ceived the approval of nearly all those
consulted.
Upon the invitation of the United States
an international opium conference will be
held at The Hague some time during the
next year.