The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-07-02
MILLION :. N !. .'''.''DRuG
=: F|ENDS" lN:U. S.
Congress GETS Report 81 lnvesti'
cation Conducted by CON-
mittee.
PROMPT ACTION IS URGED
Strict Enforcement: Of Law and Stop
pina Of Smuggling From Canada
and Mexico 10 Recommended
LACK Of Adequate Lava

WashingtOn.-The' alarming spread
Of the narcotic drug habit in the
United States is about to be called to
the attention Of congress in the report
Of an investigation conducted by a
committee appointed by the secretary
# the treasury.
The chief findings Of the committee
are: ~ D.,
The number Of persons in the
United States addicted to the use OF
drugs exceeds 100000 at the pres
eht time"
Increase Of the drug habit In the
dry South leads many authorities to
the conclusion that national prohibi'
ton will swell the number of victims
Of narcotics.
Illegitimate supplies Of opium and
other drugs are struggled from Mex
ico and Canada and along the Allan
tic and Pacific coasts and furnished
to 1900 organized "dope' peddlers.
Summary Of Instrumentation.
The committees recommendations
tnclude strict enforcement of the pres
ent federal anti-narcotic act; addi'
eonal federal legislation; enforcement
Of state laws concerted action on the
part Of state and municipal govern
4aents to suppress the Illicit trahic ;
stopping smuggling Of dope from Can
ada and Mexico. -. ...-.-~ ~--.
1T is also recommended that edu-
,eational campaigns be Instituted In
MI parts of the United States for the
Rurpose of informing the people of
this country including the medical
profession. Of the seriousness Of drug
addiction and its extent in the United
States" says the report.
The committee which made the in
vestigation consisted Of Congressman
Henry T. Rainey of Illinois, Prof.
Reed S. Hunt, Harvard university
Deputy Commissioner B. C. Keith In
ternal revenue bureau, and DR.. A. G.
Dumez, United States public health
service
~The number of individuals addict
I'd to the use of opium, its prepara-
lions or alkalOids, and coca leaves
their preparations or alkalOids, In the
United States has at various times
been estimated to be from 100000 t.,
1900, OOO," says the committee. These
Estimates must. however, be looked
won as mere guesses.
lowing to the lack of laws and reg
citations making It compulsory for the
fu%r rr o1I hoe hoon In,
npestble for the committee to obtain
attenuation which would give the ex.
"a. number Of adiicts in the United
states. $1,000 So ''''''''-'- ~ '''
4 Causes Of Druo" Addiction: 100
{ The causes Of drug addiction in the
farder Of frequency were given by po-
Nee authorities as follows: Use Of
nAysicians' prescriptions. association
With other addicts. prohibition. use
a. narcotic drugs for chronic diseases.
xuriosity to learn the effect Of the
tRQg, prostitution, use of patent or
proprietnry medicines, use Of certain
aarcotic drugs as stimulant, idle
mass, and use by dentists.
What effect. If any, nationwide
prohfbition will have on the situation
>puld not be definitely determined by
Nc committee" the report says. 1.-The
aoasensus appears to be that the mum.
Der Of addicts will increase as soon
- the prohibition laws are enforced.
This opinion apparently receives some
support from Investigations made in
aszne of the southern states where pro-
Aftition has been in; effect for some