Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-04
URGE STATE GIVE DRUGS
TREATMENTS OF ADDICTS

The State should go into the drug
business to the extent of establishing
and maintaining supply of narcotics
to be dispensed, pending treatment and
cure, to persons addicted to their use,
the Whitney Habit Forming Drug In
Vestigating Committee reported TO the
LEGISLATURE. This recommendation was
one of several submitted with view
to lessening the drug evil.
The committee after many hearings,
found incontroVertible evidence which
classified addiction to narcotic drugs as
disease and not a vicious habit that
can be broken at will. The past identi-
tication and treatment of drug addlc-
ton as d habit by the medical profess
sion has resulted in methods Of treat
mcnt and so-called cures that have
been directly responsible for the I'M
paired health and death OF many adj
diets. the report says.
Private SanitariumS and institutions.
found under investigation to be con-
Quoted for the sole purpose of exploit
ing addiction and the so-called
cures" failing in the same classified
ton, should lie regulated by the State,
the committee recommends.
The urging Of the registration Of all
cases Of drug addiction by the physl-
clans treating them is another import
ant feature Of the report. The registra
ton would he with the State Depart
ment of Health to the end that rec
ord Of addiction could be kept by the
State and advice offered to the victim
seeking cure.
Legislation should he enacted imme-
! d;ately. the committee believes, 10
( prevent so far as possible the making
of new addicts. The life of the com
mittee should be extended and its pow
| crs enlarged in association with recog-
nized medical authorities on the subject
with a view to evolving humane and
efficient treatment of addiction.
/ Tha committee report says in part
Lack OF understanding and appre-
| citation of the disease of narcotic drug
| addiction and its treatment by large
ma iority Of the medical profession has
| fostered conditions which make it i'm
( possible to determine a rational pro-
ccdlre for treating and curing the ad-
/ dicted by the state at this time.
Such absence of uniformity of opin-
| ion has worked great hardship upon the
| public and has laid the narcotic drug
addict open to misconception, misun-
derstanding and medical treatment
which, in many instances, have result
| ed in harm rather than good
| while there is TO definite data al
| hand upon which to base an estimate
| as to the exact number of drug users
| in New York State, the committee be
lieves that at least 100000 people arc
! now suffering from this disease.
/ Evidence offered by physicians
| shows that many addcts have died un-
| der the methods of treatment existing
! TODAY and that q large percentage Of
! those discharged from institutions as
! cured are driven back to the use OF
narcotics through unbearable pain in
duced by improper withdrawal of theil
! drug
Your committee is inclined TO crit
ciSe the medical profession for its lack
Of Study Of the increasingly important
subject of narcotic drug addiction. The
F, only excuse which can he offered for
| this unfortunate condition lies in the
| fact that there has not been medica'
| appreciation Of conditions and that
| legislation both State and federal. has
| forced upon the physician q situation
| for which he was wholly unprepared.
THE committee believes it to be one
Of the first duties Of the State, In deal
ing with this grave situation, to estab-
! fish a supply Of narcotic drugs to which
the confirmed ADDICT shall have access
under Proper State regulation. pending
the establishment Of rational and sci
entific treatment of this disease.
"The committee believes that Of ever
greater Importance is a thorough and
searching investigation Of all phases OF
the great problem Of narcotic drug ad-
| diction existing in the State Of New
| York with the definite view Of request
| ing or employing the service Of medica
experts familiar with this disease ant
evolving from the mass Of contradict
DRY evidence at hand some order ant
! classification which shall point TO com
petent care and ultimate cure"