Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-04-02
THE HARRISON DRUG ACT

In the opinion Of a number Of ply
sicians and druggists who have been
asked about the matter, there has
been a decrease Of at least rs per cent
in the sale Of morphine, opium and
other narcotics in York county during
the first month in which the Federal
Drug act has been In force.
A representative Of a large whole
sale drug house Of North Carolina,
whose territory embraces York coun-
ty, and who vas in Yorkville this
week said that during the month Of
March sales of opium, cocaine. NOR
phine here by his firm has fallen off
at least fifty per cent, and that in
his opinion they would suffer a much
greater reduction.
The drug salesman said that in
some parts Of his territory the sale Of
dry cocoa leaves from which cocaine
and certain other narcotics were de-
rived had increased to a large extent.
The Harrison narcotic act does not
prohibit the sale Of these leaves and
many dope fiends are getting on to the
fact that by brewing them a con-
coction can be secured which has the
same effect as cocaine or morphine.
A prominent physician, when asked
yesterday how the new act was work.
ing, said that he had observed a num-
Der Of persons who were really de-
serving pity on account Of their in
ability to secure dope" but that as
a whole he believed the new law would
work a great amount Of good.
During the month Of March," he
said, II have been besieged by a num-
Der Of regular drug users begging me
to issue prescriptions in order that
they might get their narcotics. You
would be surprised at the number of
persons in York county and right
around Yorkville who are addicted to
the opium and morphine habits. Many
Of these drug habitues have a hard
time raising the money with which
to buy narcotics, much less the money
with which to pay a physicians fee.
However, where q person Is able to
pay for a prescription I make him pay
and I understand that the same rule
Is followed by practically all ply
sicians.
II know Of at least two persons
just becoming addicted to the steady
use Of drugs, who have given up the
habit since the Inauguration OF the
lr,,1 ~ % ootl Tho 1n1f1r SPAfh tho
parties-one q man, the other a wo-
man, had been through long periods
Of sickness, suffering great pain and
in order to obtain relief they had be-
gun taking small quantities of NOR
phine; the habit gradually growing
upon them. These parties having been
accustomed TO sending other persons
to various drug stores for their dope,
had to cease the practice, because the
law not only requires that the party
buying the stuff must purchase the
same himself but sign his name there
for. They were unwilling to do this
and were also unwilling to be con-
stantly. b~esieging physicians for pre-
sc%riptions, so they just simply quit.
OF course 1t required a great deal OF
courage and determination; but they
had 1t you see they had not been using
lltO oCdaiy Pol00lls SAASooih W NSfeA
the habit permanently.
II know Of other 'dopers' who have
reduced their consumption a great
deal and / have hopes that they will
finally cut 1t out altogether. When !
see that a person addicted to the habit
really wants to give 1t up, I try to
encourage him and I am sure all the
physicians do the same thing. Still
1t Is q hare thing for a confirmed
dope to do-much worse than to alb
stain from liquor. Oftentimes those
who try to quit go crazy. On the other
hand they will go crazy II they con-
tinue the practice, sc you see 1t Is q
difficult matter either way"
One Of the leading druggists Of the
county said recently hat there has
been a big reduction Of the sale Of
narcotics at his store during March,
in fact sales were at least so per cent
less than in February. 1--WE u up
against some pitiful cases every once
in awhile" he said. Some poor doper
comes in quite frequently and actual
ly begs and pleads for the stuff. They
know that a prescription Is necessary
to obtain the drugs; but perhaps
having secured a prescription the day
before, they hate to ask for a second
so soon and so they come without 1t,
hoping that the druggist will sell them
their salvation without such au-
thority. But we have to be firm. It's
indeed hard some time to refuse the
poor souls; but Uncle Sam Is behind
this matter you know and no matter
how you feel for the unfortunate
dope artist you've got to keep right
with Uncle Samuel