Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-07-11
MILLION ''DRUC
f|ENDS" IN U. S.
congress Gets Report Of Investi-
cation Conducted by Com.
mittee.
PROMPT ACTION IS URGED
oF'ct enforcement of Law and Stop.
ping Of Smuggling From Canada
ana Mexico is Recommended
Lack Of Adequate Laws.


"aSlington.-The alarming spread
OF the narcotic drug habit in the
united States Is about to be called Ia
Tue attention of congress in the report
vi an investigation conducted by a
committee appointed by the secretary
of the treasury.
Inc chief findings of the committee
| are:
Inc number Of persons in the
United States addicted to the use OF
drugs exceeds 100000 at the pres
ent 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 ana
other drugs are smuggled from Mex
leo and Canada and along the Allan
tic and Pacific coasts and furnished
to 1880 organized dope" peddlers,
Summary of Recommendations.
The committees recommendations
include strict enforcement of the pres
ent federal anti-narcotic act: addi-
tlonal federal legislation enforcement
of state laws; concerted action on the
part of state and municipal govern
mentS to suppress the Illicit traffic
stopping smuggling of dope from Can
ada and Mexico.
1T is also recommended that edu-
cational campaigns be instituted in
all parts Of the United States for the
purpose of informing the people az
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 r. Rainey of Illinois, Prof.
Reed :. Hunt Harvard university:
Deputy Commissioner b. c. Keith, in
tenal revenue bureau, and Or. A. q.
Dumez, United States public health
service.
The number of individuals addict
ed TO the use of opium, it's prepare
tons or alkaloids, and coca leaves,
their preparations or alkaloids, in the
United States has at various times
been estimated to be from 100000 to
100000" says the committee. These
estimates. must. however. be looked
upon as mere guesses.
Owing to the lack of laws and reg
ulations making it compulsory for the
registration of addicts, it has been i'm
possible for the committee TO obtain
information which would give the eX-
act number of addicts in the United
States
Causes OF Drug Addiction.
The causes of drug addiction in the
order of frequency were given by po-
lice authorities as follows: Use OF
physicians prescriptions, association
with other addicts, prohibition, use
of narcotic drugs for chronic diseases,
| curiosity to learn the effect OF the
drug, prostitution, use OF patent or
proprietary medicines, use of certain
narcotic drugs as a stimulant, IDLE
ness, and use by dentists.
"What effect, if any, nationwide
prohibition will have on the situation
! could not be definitely determined bS
the committee" the report says. The
| consensus appears TO be that the num-
Der of addicts will increase as soon
as the prohibition laws are enforced.
This opinion apparently receives some
support from investigations mace III
some of the southern states where pro
hibition has been in effect for some
years"