The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-22
WHISKEY HABIT
GIVES PLACE TO
NARCOTIC DRUGS
Investigation Shows Steady
Growth in Consumption
of Opiates.
APPETITES CHANGED
Noted Neurologist Believes
Prohibition the Cause
Others Disagree.
NO ACCURATE STATISTICS
Health Commissioner Cites
City Records, but Refrains
From Analysis.
70 ACCURATE STATISTICS

The United States Government
doesn't know whether prohibition has
or has not caused a greater number
OF people to turn to habit forming
drugs for that surcease from hum
drummery that whiskey used to pro-
vide. The State of New York is no
better informed on the subject. And
the city of New York has no figures
thereon either.
And if one seeks information from
private individuals or from boards of
health or commissions formed to in
vestigate or establish control over drug
addiction one gets just as many con-
tradictions as opinions. For instance,
DR. Royal S. Copeland, Health Com
missioner for the city of New York,
says that the number of dope addicts
is on the increase. He gives his own
figures and facts to support his state
ment. Whether this is due to the
Eighteenth Amendment or not Is an
other matter. He merely can show one
the facts and makes no attempt to set
forth reasons.
DIR. Conley's Views.
DR.. Walter II. Conley. medical super
intendent of the Metropolitan Hospital
Blackwell's Island. says that the habit
is on the decline that there are fewer
addicts to-day and less cocaine,
morphine, heroin and straight opium to
be had. But he, too throws up his hands
when asked why. Like DR.. Copeland he
is not prepared to say whether prohibit
ton, such as II is. has any bearing
upon the matter or not
Or Ernest S. Bishop. the we'll known
diagnostician whose experience with al
cohol!c and drug addicts has made him
an authority on the subject. says that
there are more drug addicts to-day
than ever before that there Is more
Illicit traffic in narcotics than ever
before.
However" said DR. Bishop this in
crease is not because of the enactment
OF the Eighteenth Amendment. Prohibi-
ton has nothing whatever to do with It."
Still another physician. who has
gained renown as an alienist and whose
hospital affiliations have kept him in daily
touch with alcoholism. dope victims and
the like, says:
Nothing has changed except wh!s-
key"
He will not permit the use OF his
name. hut he insists that there are
more dope fends to-day because there
are more people to-day and that the
supply OF habit forming drugs mys-
teriously increases with the demand.
That despite the Harrison law and all
It's amendments
DR.. Menas S. Gregory. director of the
psychopathic and alcoholic service at
Bellevue. confcsses that he doesn't know
whether the Eighteenth Amendment
boosted the illegitimate drug traffic or
not He says that there are still many
alcoholics in New York and that the
number of addicts le not decreasing.
But Ward 80 at Bellevue has not pro-
vided him with statistics that throw
any light upon the effect OF our leaky
prohibition upon the growing dope traf-
fic
Sara Graham -Mulhall. Deputy Com
Control Commission. says that SO ia,
as she knows the number Of drug ad-
diets In this State and city Is not In
creasing. but that the supply OF dope
pedded about the streets by bootleggers
Is not decreasing.
Against this there is the opinion Of
DR.. j. r. Campbell, 321 St Nicholas
avenue. who for long time has bean
connected with the West Side prison
and other lesser jails where prisoners
are kept until tried. says that since
January; 1920. when the Eighteenth
Amendment went into effect. the num-
ber OF dope addicts received in police
stations has dwind1ed so per cent.
speak with Authority.
IL would be possible TO continue in
definitely and just as possible 10 prove
nothing more than that which the fore
going has proyed---which IL nothing
But all these authorities speak Of that
which they know or should know. They
are not theorists but practical people
who deal with the drug victim person
ally and have observed and treated
thousands Of these unfortunatcs.
lpOWn al ~ NHSANu hlTttts III llt
offices OF the National Wholesale Drug
gists Association they Insist that the
wholesale druggists are spending every
available energy TO kill the Illicit drug
traffic AS for an Increase In the num-
Der OF addicts and the Illicit supply Of
dope since prohibition became part Of
our constitutional law. they refer one 70
v. w. Andrews. assistant counsel TO the
Prohibition Unit Internal Revenue Bu-
rcau. who says:
you hear II alleged that national pro-
hibtion has increased narcotic drug ad-
dlctiou, that the habitual drinker Of
splrituous liquor when deprived of his
drink seeks morphine, cocaine or hcroin
as substitute. Such propaganda Is
without Justification. Prohibition has
not Increased the number OF narcotic
drug nddicts. IT Is unreasonable 20 be-
leve that II should Morphine will not
satisfy the thirst for strong drink any
more than spirtuous liquor would cure
the dope fiend OF his desire for mar
cotics."
In rebuttal another medical authority,
-