The daily banner., 1919-08-16
WOULD AID DRUG ADDICTS
Senator France Asks Congress- For
4. $4,000, O,OO0-Requests Use OF Hos
pitals-Nlarylander Declares Imme
diate Steps Must be Taken to Curt
Growing EviI.

! Washington, Aug. 15.-Senato1
France, of Maryland, asked Congress
today for an appropriation of $3,-
100000 next year and $2,000,000
I the year following for the care and
treatment of drug addicts and for
the transfer to the public Health
Service of such army and navy hos
pitals, now unused, as may be need
ed for the proper treatment of the
unfortunate victims Of the drug habit
The Marylander is chairman of
the Senate Committee on Public
Health and his measure was offered
after consultation with his associates
with representative of the medical
profession throughout the country,
and with officials of the Public
Health Service. He feels that it is
imperatively necessary that provision
be made without delay for the care
of the increasing number of drug ad-
diets.
With nationwide prohibition and
the tendency Of certain people to
turn from liquor to drugs for their
artificial stimulation, it is the be-
lief of Senator France and others
who have studied the question that
the Government must use its resour-
ces for the protection of the unfor~
tunafes, certainly so until the indi-
'Vidual States are organized for that
purpose.
| For long time a very serious
situation has existed in this coun-
tfy," Senator France says in his
statement, as u result of failure to
,enforce the Harrison Anti-Narcotic
law The failure to enforce the law
has been necessitated by the lack of
facilities for the treatment of those
addicted to the use Of narcotic drugs,
who, were the law drastical'Y enforc-
ed, would require hospital care and
skilled treatment
1T is estimated that in New York
city alone there are at least $4,000
persons who have become dependent
upon narcotic drugs, and who, by
various methods, in spite of the ex-
istenee lof. the Harrison act, obtain
these. drugs. Ii would be inhuman,
cruel and indeed not at ali imprac-
ticable to strictly enforce this act
without making provision for these
unfortunate victims"
Continuing, the Senator said:
1T is imperative that steps be
taken at once to enforce the act be-
cause under the present system OF
law enforcement, the number OF
drug addicts is increasing at an
alarming rate, and there seems to
be no means of checking this in
crease in the use of narcotic drugs,
except by a strict enforcement OF
the statute The consumption OF
opium in this country by those addic
ted to- its use has already reached
alarming proportions, it being esti-
mated that in 1910 the consumption
was at the rate Of 36 grains per
capita for a population OF $4,000
600. In addition to those who use
opium, there are also many who
are addicted to the use of the de-
stfuctive drug cocaine. 1t has been
estimated, although the figures can
not be called reliable, that there are
at least 100000 unfortunate victims
of the narcotic drug habit in the
United States.
EtIn view of this situation, it has
seemed to those who have made a
most careful study and survey of it,
that hospital provisions must be
made for the accommodation of 5000
Ito 10000 drug addicts at time, ii
the law is to be drastically enforced
lWhfIe the appropriation seems large.
lin view of the many other eXpendi-
Itures which are necessary at this
time, it is in reality but an invest
lment of a conservative character, as
| it will result, if wisely used, in the
saving of the lives and restoring the
usefulness of those already victims.
and it wilP make possible such an
enforcement of the law as will pre-
went the now rapidly increasing use
tiof these habit-forming drugs.
''It is particularly important at
this time that provisions be made foI
the strict enforcement of the Harr1-
lson Anti-nareotic act, because the es-
tabIishment of national prohibition
tends to increase the demand for
narcotic drugs. Habitual users OF a.
cohol are naturally turning in the
sence of alcoholic beverages to the
various stimulating, and narcotic
drugs. If the Harrison act is not
enforced more rigidly we may look
| for an enormous increase during the
next year in the number of those
using narcotic drugs. This is also q
! favorable time for the treatment and
lcure of drug addicts because the ar
my is now possessed of a large num-
! Der of hospital beds which will moi
be needed and which might readily
be turned over to. the Public
Health Service for this work.
-O