The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-05
DRUG
PROBLEM IS LIKELY
TO Be INVESTIGATED
Authority on Legislation of This
Kind Urges Congress 10 Take
Action; Too Many Loopholes
in Present Laws, Is Claim.
IN, E,,uIus Herald Leased wire,


Washington. Jan. 5.--ln connection
with proposed amendments to the
Harrison Narcotic law which are to DO
considered by congress-. Charles -.
Towns Of New York. an authorlt. On
arti-drug legislation. urges that on
gress empower Presiden, Wilson to
appoint a committee to investigate the
whole subject OF federal responsibility
In the solution Of the hahit-fnrailng
drug problem. Deyoting n twenty-page
pamphlet TO the Information OF con-
grcss," Mr.. Towns declares that the
findings OF such a federal committee
would help the various states &c arrive
at a uniform solution OF the drug
problem, and would establish a leg
islative. medical aud sociological pre-
.cedent that would Civ this country
for the first time the primacy II ought
TO have In asking other countries 30
join with Us once and for all In ter
minating this ovi,
''Afy findings have shown said Mr..
Towns. that NOT more than ton per
cent OF those afflicted with the drug
habit are entitled TO use dug con-
tinuousiy because Of physical disabil
ity. We are sacrificing ainctv per
cent OF those could be well and ror-
NAL without the arug to alleviate suf-
fcring OF some few incuraele per.
sons"
Present Laws Deficient.
Among many Inopholes iu the pres
cnt laws, Mf. Towns pointed out hat
Ia drug-taker OF any person purport-
ing 90 he a drug-taker "a at present
have just ~ many physicians pre-
scribing a narcotic Tor him as he mas
see III TO have. and he may demand
just as much OF the drug as he chooses
t. take.
The doctor docs not nave to find
out whether or not the patient Is n
confirmed drug-taker. he can take the
mans word for e and prescribe Just
what the patient asks for. A few
such patients" could practically coz
ner almost the entire habi;-formlng
drug market and. IL they wanted to do
so. could establish themselves In the
habit-forming drug business.
After pointing out tn. extent 10
which many so-called patent med
icines aud ''proprietaries'' aro respon-
sibic for the growth OF drug addic-
ton. Mr.. Towns suggested that ono
solution Of the drug pFobiem might be
To restrict the manufacture. sale. pro
scri5ing and administering OF opiates
strictly 10 crude opium, 50 laudanum
and p%aregoric. and 10 hold the physi-
clan TO a strict accounting OF ali these
he personally prescribes or admins
tiers.
I'VE can dispense even with NOR
phine and all OF the opium alkaloids'
he said. II can go back TO the time
In the south when there was an old
rosewood medicine chest with a ball OF
opium and a vial OF p~aregoric, and
these easily met ever possible need
where opiates were considered neces-
sary TO alleviate pain. The medical
profession would not be Inconvenience
In the slightest degree by such a re-
striction and II would at once elm
mate every ~unfavorable hazard that
has grown out OF the use OF habit
forming drugs for medical prescrip-
ton"
sale OF S~yringcs.
Mr. Towns also urged that the sale
Of hypodermic syringes should be re-
strlcted 20 purchase by physicians
prescription. outside Of New York
state he said, these can be bought
in any drug store and in most depart
ment stores A. easily as "a package OF
chewing gum" He declared that the
nurse should no; be allowed possession
of a hypodermic needle except hy the
physicians order and that the dose TO
be administered should 1T atl times
be stritly regulated hv the physician
"A committee Of able men appoint
ed hy the president with adequate ape
preparation 90 enable them 10 conduct
hearings and make Investigations and
empowered Co 60 To- the bottom Of the
drug problem take of the roof and
open up the whole huslneps Co tho
blue sky, could do wonder said Mr.
Towns. 'rhe states could then enact
proper corolative and iuteractinr leg
lslntlon and the drus situation would
be securely boz hand.
Aso soon as the war is over the
time viii Dee ripe for us 90 bring
about the necessary international uu
-dorstunding ON this subject with an ~