New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-10
u. S. Called On to Expel
Defect Lurking in Har-
rison Act.
DOCTORS WHO USE
DRUGS A MENACE
Census of Addicts and State
Laws Against Mail Order
Cures Viewed as Needs.
~ sA,,rEL HOPKINS ADAMS.

Nv SAMUEL. HOPKINS ADAMS
Rochester. y Y, Sept. Q. Habit
forming d-uQs and the treatment ana
control Of those addicted 20 their use
was .he principal topic discussed oy
.hc American Public Health Assocla-
ticn at its general meeting this AFTER
,oo, Tho discussion centred on the
reno-, OF the standing committee on
habit forming drugs. Of which DR.. {. r
Terry. Of Jacksonville. Fla, is chair
nan. Change in the Harrison anti
narcotic law. which seeks 70 control by
Federal regulation the use OF opium
r,orphiac. cocaine and other "dopes'
we're recommended in the report
The first recommendation was the re-
pes, OF section SIX OF the Harrison act
This is the section which oxemp:S ra'-
,nt medicines from the control Of the
law. and permits morphine. OPIUM exc
&c be sold in patent medicine form
without phyNoian's prescription
whereas in other forms they can be
obtained only on prescription.
The responsibility Of the physician
as well as Of nostrums for the spread
Of the drug habit was recognized m !
. a solution souGht in the rccommen1e-
ton that physicians shown 10 D.
habituai users Of narcotics be refused
the right 20 prescribe them; also ina
drurgists who are addiots be refused
recognition as dispensers OF theS'
drugs This clause Is based upon tie
proneness Of drug-taking physicians
and druggists 70 prescribe and advise
the use Of dope" where II IS need 'E'
and dangerous.
Other important recommendation
were that census be taken OF Al
drug addcts; that institutions for me
eurs Of addicts be established and pro
vision for the commitment OF non
criminal nddicts TO rneSe be enactFc'
such institutions as well as similar
private institutions 10 be under the
supervision and regulation Of the state
boards Of health; that each state
should enact laws TO abolish mail o.
der cures for the drug habit, such
cures being invariably unavailing, AMI
often pernlcious, and that all medical
schools and training schools for nurses
specially impress upon all pupils the
need of greater caution IN the admin
istration OF narcotic drugs. Flnall'
the committee says:
"In submitting this report we would
emphasize the fact that II is the
opinion Of the committee as whole
that the problem Of narcotlsm is OF lar
greater significance 70 TINS country
than has been generally supposed; that
existing legislation Will not prove
solution. and that the utmost enort
should be made by the members OF the
American Public Health Association
and all concerned with the public well
fare TO reach an early solution"
Supporting the views of the commit.
tee papers were presented by several OF
the members. J. Frank Chase, secretary
Of the New England Watch and Word
Society. favored compulsory institu-
lions for addicts. More than 90 per
cent Of habitual drug users, he sald'
were criminals. In most prisons they
found little difficulty in securing drugs,
and not infrequently convicts formed
the QTuH nhDll III Aut Jane
est factor in the spread Of the drug
habit, said Mr.. Chase, is the contagious
influence of the confirmed addict.
Chairman Terry OF the committee
called attention to the exemption OF
nostrums from the provisions OF the
Harrison law as constituting grave
weakness. Too much latitude is al,
lored the physician, also, he said, and
a practitioner who is himself dope"
fend may without restriction make ad,
diets of his patients by the continual
Volunteering Of this class of drugs.
Lucius P. Brown, director Of the Bureau
II Food Inspection of the New York
City Health Department, also advo-
Gated more stringent restrictive meas
ures and more efficient curative
methods.
An informal smoker 10 the members
Of the association was given at the
Powers Hotel in the evening.