The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-08-05
MUCH CONCERN OVER
NEW NARCOTIC LAW

. u. ". teyWarQ, COllecCOr OIL 1nCeT-
nal Revenue, is very much concerned
over the situation which has arisen
as a result of the enforcement of the
law recently enacted by Congress in
regard to the dispensing CT narcotics
and the steps taken by the Revenue
Department as a result of the decis-
ion by the Supreme Court, it is now
::ct permissible, as in the past, for a
physician to lie the judge of prescrip-
tons he gives the patients, but under
The provisions of the law as at pres
.ent constituted, a physician cannot
prescribe narcotics to habituates
merely to satisfy their craving for
the drug caused by the habit. The
only con ditions under which a physi-
clan may prescribe for a habituate
are that the habituate be under
treatment of a physician for the pur-
pose of effecting cure and that the
habituate be so confined while under
|, the treatment as to preclude his Sc
suring the narcotic elsewhere than
from the physician in charge. Of
course, where a patient is suffering
pain on account of illness or injury,
the physician still has the right to
prescribe, but then, only sufficient
drug to meet the immediate needs of
the patient.
The result of this law is that in
the State OF South Carolina, hun
dreds of add;cts are deprived of their
habitual supply of narcotics drugs
and, especially in the case of old
people, very great hardship is in
ficted. Later on, provision will prob
ably be made by Congress to take
care of these cases, but at present
the Federal Government has no sys-
tenn Of hospitals in which this prob
lem can be handled, and the only
course Collector Hayward secs by
which the present situation can he
alleviated is for hi INTO call the mat
ter to the attention of the people of
this State and urge the various NUM-
cipalities and also all - societies
which have for their object the help
ing and uplifting of humanity, in
the hope that they will endeavor to
aid the unfortunate who are not
able financially to help themselves by
placing them in some institution
where they can be treated and, if
possible, cured of the habit.
Mr.. Hayward has conferred with
DR.. Williams, Superintendent of the
State Hospital, and the authorities of
the hospitals will do everything in
their power to help the situation, but
they are at present very much over
crowded and cannot receive an ad-
dict for treatment, unless such addict
has been regularly committed by the
county authorities, and, even then,
the law of the State requires that
their expenses at the hospital must
be paid, as only lunatics can be
treated free Of charge.
Mr.. Hayward wishes it thoroughly
understood that, under the law, he
has no right to issue a permit to a
physician prescribing narcotics. He
can only point out to them what the
law is and the Collertor's Office has
made every effort to thoroughly ac-
quaint the physicians and people of
the State with the changes in the law
There are, however, throughout the
State a number of private institu-
tions, which are no doubt in a posi-
tion to receive patients, and Collec-
tor Hayward hopes that once the at
tention of the people Of the State has
been called to the present condition
of affairs, that they will realize that
something must be done and that
steps will be taken by municipal au-
thorities, also by societies and pub
lic-spirited individuals, to see that
all deserving persons who need treat
ment, receive this treatment.
The physicians of the State are in
position to report to these societies
and city authorities the names of
habituates in the various counties.
Mr.. Hayward hopes very much that
this will be done and done promptly.