Evening journal., 1919-06-14
100000 ADDICTS
OF drugs In U. S.
Astounding Figures Re-
ported by Secretary OF
Treasury's Committee
WORST IN WORLD,
REPORT SAYS

NIL yin Oft -
More than a million people in the
Uniied States are addicted TO the use
Of habit forming drugs such as opium
cocaine and heron, according TO tne
report OF a committee appointed by the
Secretary OF the Treasury in March,
1918, 10 investigate the traffic in mar
cotic- drugs This report was released
FOR publication yesterday by the
Bureau Of Internal Revenue.
Were il not for the names Of the
men signing the report Representative
Harry n. Rainey, chairman Reid Hunt,
professor OF pharmacOl0gy Of Harvard
A. Il. Du Mcz, OF the United states
Public Health Service, and B. C. Keith,
former Deputy Commissioner OF In
lcrnal Revenue, the findings might be
ridlculed as fantastic. The conditions
reported are startling. particularly 50
since the report makes IL apparent
nat only the United STATES, Of all
civilized nations. is 50 afflicted.
The consumption Of opium per cap
ia in the United states, for example,
from ten 10 sixty times that in 9TH
,r nations, according 10 the committee.
The only alleviating circumstances in
ihe table issued by the committee
showing this is the fact that the per
capita consumption is calculated on
The population figures for 1919. which
give the United states only 92OO00OO
inhabitants, while as matter OF fact
here are now at least i0O00,0O0 more
people here. France. with 100000
people, uses 1900 pounds Of opium
a year; Germany, with 60O00000, also
consumes 1900 pounds. while the
United states uses 10000 pounds.
The figures in the table are for
opium legally and openly brought into
this country, but in addition there is
an organized underground traffic
equal i'm volume TO the legitimate
channels which are known. 4 cOun-
try-widc organization exists for traf-
licking in narcotics, the committee re-
ports.
'This trade is in the hands OF the
so-called dope peddlerR who appear
20 have national organization for
procuring and disposing Of their sup
plies the report states. "FOr the
most part IL is thought that they OBJ
NfAAAA ANNNA HAfNANNH Nf HAAANA- = MS ANAN AAA
through Mexico or Canada. although
smaller quantities Of these drugs arc
obtained from INSCRIPTIONS dealers in
this country or by theft. Smuggling
also is practiced 20 a considerable eX-
tent on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts,
where the drugs arrive on ships hail
ing from Europe and the Orient"
Eighteen thousand drug pedlers are
reported by the police Of various
cities Many OF these get their supplies
from the smugglcrs. Ostensible 0ccu-
pations enable them TO associate with
out suspicion with their customers as
gamblers. taXicab drivers, domestics,
solicitors. messengers, vagrant. lunch
room helpers. pool room employees
pOrters and laundrymen.
In addition 10 the victims OF these
drug pedlers. thousands OF addicts get
the narcotics they crave through pat
ent medicines. many OF which are
loaded with dope but may be sold
without violation OF the law
Of 1902 manufacturers making pat
ent and proprietary medicines and
compounds and druggists preparations
}S2 reported the use OF opium in their
preparations. 300 morphine or its de-
rivatives. i3S hsrOin, ii2 diacetyl NOR
phine ,herOinl. and 1876 cocaine or its
derivatives These manufacturers used
1882 pounds Of opium. 3l6,i 1870 ounces
II morphine, 1909 ounces OF heroin.
1859 ounces OF diacctyl morphine and
ili.2JJ ounces OF cocaine.
Drug users for the most part are
residents Of the larger cities. although
the smaBeg- cities and rural sections
have their patent medicine drug adj
diets Tn New York, for example. there
are 10000 addicts. n this proportion
leld good throughout the country
here would be i.9Os.OOO addicts in the
United states. The drug evil is. in
creasing in the large cities, the DOM
mitice reports, "and in particular in
those where more than the usual at
tention is being directed TO the eradi-
cation Of drug addiction
No conclusion on the effect Of pro-
hibitlon on the consumption or drugs
is reached by the committee. on this
phase Of the situation it says:
what effect. If any, nationwide
prohibition will have on the situation
could not he definitely determined. The
conscnus OF opinion Of those interest
ed in the subject appears TO be TO the
effect that the number Of drug adj
diets will increase a. soon as the pro-
hibition laws are enforced. These opin-
ions are based for the most part on
the theory that drinkers will seek a
substitute for a1cohol and that the
opiaics and cocaine will be found most
satisfactory for this purpose.
"This 0Iinion apparently receives
some support from investigations
made in some OF The Southern States.
where prohibition has been in effect
for some years. 10 has been noted
that in these states the sales Of mar
cotic drugs and cocaine, and especial