The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1919-07-09
MILLION DRUG
F|ENDS" IN U. S,
Congress Gets Report Of lnvesti.
cation Conducted by Com
mittec.
PROMPT ACTION IS URGED
Strict Enforcement Of Law and Stop
ping Of Smuggling From Canada
and Mexico 10 Recommended
Lack Of Adequate Laws

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 IN investigation conducted by a
committee appointed by the secretary
of the treasury.
The chief findings of the committee
are:
The number Of persons in the
United States addicted to the use OF
drugs exceeds 100000 at the pres
ent time"
Increase cf the drug habit in the
dry South leads many authorities to
the conclusion that national prohibit
ton will swell the number Of victims
Ct narcotics.
Legitimate supplies Of opium and
other drugs are struggled from Mex
leo and Canada and along the Allan
tic and Pacific coasts and furnished
to 1900 organized dope" peddlers.
Summary Of Recommendations.
The committees recommendations
include strict enforcement of the pres
ent federal anti-narcOtic act; add1-
tional federal legislation; enforcement
Of state laws; concerted action on the
part Of state and municipal govern
ments to suppress the Illicit trafmc:;
stopping smuggling Of dope from Can
ada and Mexico.
E SSYf SC o1cn ~aoornro0nHoH that nSvS-
cational campaigns be instituted In
all parts Of the United States fortthe
purpose Of informing the people Of
this country including the medical
profession, Of the seriousness of drug
addiction snd, 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. G. Keith; In
ternal revenue bureau, and ORA. G.
Dumez, United States public health
service.
1.-THE number Of individuals addict.
ed to the use of opium, its prepare
lions or alkaloids, and, coca leaves
their preparations or alkaloids, in the
United States has at various times
been estimated to be from 100000 tt
100000" says the committee. 'These
estimates must, however, be lOoket
upon as mere guesses.
lowing to the lack Of laws and reg
ulations making it compulsory for thu
registration of addicts, it has been I'M
possible for the committee to obtail
information which would give the ex
act number Of addicts in the United
States.
Causes Of Drug Addiction.
The causes Of drug addiction in tn
order of frequency were given by pc
lice authorities as follows: Use Q
physicians prescriptions, association
with other addicts, prohibition, us
of narcotic drugs for chronic disease.
curiosity to learn the effect Of tn
drug, prostitution, use of patent 0
proprietary medicines, use of certai
narcotic drugs as a stimulant, idl'
ness, and use by dentists.
"What effect, II any, nationwide
prohibition will have on the situatio
could not be definitely determined b
the committee" the report says. 18th
consensus appears to be that the nun
Der Of addicts will increase as SOC
as the prohibition laws are enforce
This opinion apparently receives SON
support from investigations made
some of the southern states where pr
hibition has been in effect for son
years."