The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-14
OYER MILLION ADDICTS
TO DRUG HABIT
Imports of Opium Into the United States
Have Increased Twice.as Fast as the
neutrality-suspicious. of Co
came Leaves Also Grows
Steadily.

Washington, June l4..-Nation wide
use of narcotic drugs for other than legit-
innate medical purposes, steadily in
creasing despite vigorous efforts in the
last four years in the enforcement of
the federal law, was discovered by the
treasury's special inyestigative commit
tee which submitted final report to-
day.
The number of drug addicts in the
United States was estimated to be in
excess of 100000.
The committee found that imports of
opium into the United States have IN
creased twice as fast as the growth in
population Imports of cocoa leaves,
from which cocaine is made, also have
grown steadily.
ut has been stated that about 30 per
cent of the amount of these drugs en-
tered for consumption is used for other
than medical purposes" the report said.
while this statement is probably ex-
IRENE, comparison OF the per capita
consumption in this country with that
Of other countries indicates that this
country consumes from IL to ~ times
as much opium per capita as other coun-
tries"
Enough opium is consumed in the
United States every year, the report
stated, to give every man, woman and
child SO doses. A minimum estimate of
the value of habit forming drugs used
was given as $20,000,000, most OF which
is paid by the victims, who suffer tor
lures without their favorite narcotic and
are ready to go any length to obtain a
supply.
Statistics obtained by the committee
naturally dealt only with the legitimate
traffic in drugs,
"In addition, there is the so-called
underground traffic in these drugs the
report continued, (which is estimated to
be equal in magnitude to that carried
on through legitimate channels. This
trade is in the hands of the so.called
dope peddlers,' who appear to have q
national organization for procuring and
disposing Of their supplies. For the
most part it is thought that they obtain
their supplies by smuggling them from
Canada or Mexico. Smuggling is also
practiced to a considerable extent on the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts"
Questionnaires submitted to doctors,
druggists and public institutions, devel-
oped with divergence Of opinion as to
the causes of the increase in the use of
drugs. The causes suggested included
physicians prescriptions, use of drugs
for chronic diseases, prohibition, asso-
citation with other addicts, use of patent
medicines and prostitution.
"What effect, if any, nationwide pro-
hibition will have on the situation could
not be definitely determined by the com
mittee," the report said. ''The consen-
sus of opinion appears to be that the
number of addicts will increase as soon
as the prohibition laws are enforced,
These opinions are based, for the most
part, on the theory that drinkers will
seek a substitute for alcohol. This opin-
ion apparently receives some support
from investigations made in some of the
southern states, where prohibition has
been in effect for some years"
The committee of investigation was
composed of Representative Henry T.
Rainey, chairman; Prof Reid Hunt of
Harvard university, B. c. Keith, former
deputy commissioner of internal revenue,
and A. G. Dumez, of the public health
service.
Although the committee expressed the
opinion that the Harrison anti-narcotic
law confers all needed powers for the
effective control of the drug menace, the
committee recommended legislation by
Congress, the states and cities to pro-
vide for the care and treatment of drug
addicts who have been cut off from their
supply of narcotics.
The committee also suggested that the
state department should endeayor to
make effective the provisions of The
Hague protocol relating to international
traffic in the habit-forming drugs. The
United States government also is urged
by the committee to take up with Can
ada and Mexico the task of suppressing
smugglers of narcotics which is now
considered the principal source of illicit
supply.
Absolute prohibition of the manufac-
ture and sale of heroin was recommend
ed Cooperation between public and
private organizations was suggested to
evolve satisfactory method of treating
drug addicts.