The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-22
Cities and States Have Joined With
Federal Authorities in Effort to Pre-
vent Sale of Habit Forming Drugs

or preparations containing them eNcep.
through the customary channels ~
trade, and then only when coru,ctt reg
ords Of all transactions are kept"
Notwithstanding the fact that Fed
eral and State legislation adverse To- the
indiScrminate sale and use Of opium
has been enacted during the past dec
adc and that most physicians use
greater circumspection than formerly
when prescribing opium ana - prep
arations and derivatives. the amount Of
opium. exclusive of smoking opium.
which is now denied entrance into this
country, consumed in the United States
per capita has doubled within the last
forty years. Not only has there been
an increased consumption OF opium It's
prepare ions and derivatives. but larger
quantities of other habit forming drugs
introduced chiefly for medicinal pur-
poses, have been used.
For example. cocaine has been used
FOR about twenty-five years, and he
amount consumed az pr, sent is estl-
mated approximately at not less than
$50 600 ounces per aunum. In addition.
1t Is well known that large quantities Of
acetanilid. ace ph netidin. antipyr n,
phenace,in Caffein, choral hydrate and
smaller amounts ~ codcln, dionon and
hcroin are consumed.
The Department of Agriculture as
strts that there are at least one hum
dred sanitariums throughout The coun-
Try which are advertising treatment for
drug addiction. while it Is We known
that thousands Of cases are treated an
/ nuallr 10y physicians in private practice
and general hospitals Tier" are at
least thirty so-callcd mail order drug
addiction cures, some Of which have
large patronage. one concern alone
claims 10 have 100000 names on its
books.
Mr.. Kcb.er In discussing the drug evil,
says:
The medical profession. STATE boards
of health. pharmacy boards and others
inter sted in the public welfare have in
some States instigated what might be
called a crusade agains, the Ind. scrimi-
nate sale Of cocaine or mixtures com
tanning y, but owing to the fact That
there are SO many individuals IN this
country who are more Interested in OBJ
tanning dollars than In the welfare uf
/ mankind. there are many ways found ot
evad!ng the laws.
I For example. he druggist IN many
I States IL not restricted In his pur,h. =,
/ ~ cocaine. II rom. morphine. *. and
/ there u no law. except in a few States
4 requiring him To- keep a record Of TN,
amount Of these drugs h. handles in
any given rod.
The result Of this Is that some drug.
( gists surrcpt.tious dispose Of cocaine
morphine. heron or similar drugs {,
persons known To be addicted To thr!l
use, or other, introduced 70 them by
| cocaine sn.Ncrs' These victims ar,
/ well aware that II they give Information
Of any character relative 20 their SQUIRE,
Of supply IL will b. cut Of Immediately
ana the result Is that tn" drugg :. ear
sell the commodity in this way in com
parat.ve security.
Another source of danger Is the 500
called morphine and cocaine doctor.
The laws permit the pr scr.hug of these
agents by doctors in their regular prac'
ticc, and 10 known drug bab,tuc- ~ thei'
discretion. or as the cas-" may demand
The result Is that IN some cases tn re il
little cOuscicu,iOusuess exercised in Tho
giving of these prescriptions. There arr
SOM doctors who viii write a number o
them for az small a f'e as - cents.
Another di.turbn- feature is IN,
fac, that some 'rrrsp1usib.r persons
OBTAIN these commodities ia tar.uu
WAYS from others outside tu. 5ur.sl.c
ton Of certain States. ANA p"id!r ia'u
within "A certain other jur >jc.!Yn e
,ucir u-t 81 patrons.
tn iuc.nu!ty and cuuuu- Of theS'