New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-10
The Drug Problem,
a Group of Important Medi-
cal Decisions

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: For the first time in many years
convention of the American Medical
Association has not received the pub
licity usually accorded to the proceed
lngs of that body.
1t should be important, however. for
the public to know that at the session
just held at New Orleans that body
refused to pass a resolution condemn
ing the use OF alcohol in the treatment
OF influenza. Nevertheless. this fact has
been recorded only in the local journals
reporting these proceedings, although
the previous action of the American
Medical Association a few years ago in
pronouncing alcohol to be Of no medic
inal value whatever and only of use in
the arts was widely proclaim I'd
throughout the county, if not through
out the world
Likewise. the unanimous condemnation
OF compulsory health insurance was
TACT Of the greatest Importance to tbs
whole medical profession, which has
hitherto opposed this measure, although
it was fathered and nurtured by the
most powerful Influences in the Amer.
can Medical Association. This news
should be welcome TO the medical pro-
fession Of England, already under
politically imposed form of state mcdi-
cal service, aud to the English people.
now threatened with bone dry prohibi-
ton.
The fact that the Legislature Of New
York had just rejected the plan for the
compulsory disqualification or institu
tlonalization Of drug addicts, to the ex-
clusion of every other form OF treat
ment, though fully presented to tn.
American Medical Association. had 70
evident weight with this body. By con-
demning the ambulatory treatment q
drug addiction it thereby approved in its
entirety the plan which was presented
to it by the same sponsors, whose recon.
mendations and limitations the New
York Legislature refused to apply TO the
$4,000 physicians OF this state. How
this action win be received when
known by the 100000 physicians Of the
country remains TO be seen.
In effect, this recommendation implies
the inability of the medical profession
or OF the police power OF the states 10
deal with the problem of drug addiction
without invoking the aid of the national |
government. American physicians and |
surgeons have heretofore contributed |
their full share to the general fund OF |
medical achievement, to the benefit OF |
mankind and to the credit Of their pro-
fession. Must il now be admitted that
IN the treatment of drug addiction
the medical profession Of this country IS /
so incompetent or so untrustworthy that |
the control and supervision OF the iDl- j
portation, manufacture, distribution and \
prescribing Of opium and its deriva'
tlves must be the function solely Of tns
United States government. as recon-
meaded in the findings Of the narcotic
committee Of the American Medical As
ISOLATION? This committee has studied
this subject for only one year. 1t was
appointed at the suggestion OF and on
the plans laid down by DR. Alexandetf
Lambert, Of New York, then just elected
president of the American Medical Ash
ISOLATION. With the exception Of the
author OF this plan. none of thossi
recommending it has had any previousl
whatever Of the disease oil
drug addiction or any experience in its1
trea tment, either institutional or other.l
wise. JOHN p. DAWN, ii. D.
New York, May ), 1920.