Norwich bulletin., 1921-09-20
ONLY 54 IN STATE
 LEGALLY USING NARCOTICS

Only 54 individuals in Connecticut have permission from the government to use narcotic drugs. These are restricted by prescriptions from 3S authorized phys 'clans. Information to this effect was mada public by Collector of Internal Revenue Robert o. Eaton, following the arrest of Dr. Charles E. Zink of Middle town on charge of violating the Harri- son act
 Forty seven of the 54 people who may lake narcotics are allowed to do so on account of their having incurable dis eases and seven because they are aged ana mfrm addicts. Collector Eaton is- sued the following statement:
 The supreme court has held that 1t Is unlawful to furnish a person popularly known as a dope fiend with narcotic drugs for the purpose of satisfying his appetite for the drugs as an habitual user thereof and not in the course of the regular professional practice of med lcine and in the proper treatment of dis ease. It also held that an order for narcotics issued by a practioner to an habitual user thereof but not in the course of professional treatment in an attempted cure of the habit, but for the purpose of providing the user with mar cotic drugs sufficient to keep him com tortable by maintaining his customary use, is not a prescription under the law, and that the practitioner who issues an order under such circumstances as well as the druggist who knowingly fills such | an order, has committed an indictable offense
 Tn cases of persons suffering from a proven incurable disease, such as cancer | advanced tuberc6losis, and other dis eases physician may in the course ot his professional practice, and strictly for legitimate medical purposes, pre- scribe narcotic drugs for the immediate needs of such patients, provided saic patients are personally attended by tn, physician and that he regulates the dos age himself. The prescriptions in sucl cases should bear the endorsement of tn attending physician to the effect tha the drug is to be dispensed to his patien in the treatment of an incurable disease
 Aged and infirm addicts sufferin; from senility, or the infirmities attend
 ant upon old age, and who are confirm
 ed addicts of years standing will, in tn
 opinion of a reputable physician i
 charge, require a minimum amount c
 narcotics in order to sustain life.
 such cases prescriptions to meet the at
 soEute needs of the patient may be writ ten and filled without involving a crim
 inal intent to violate the law. Even i
 these cases every reasonable precautio
 has to be exercised to prevent the age
 and infirm addict becoming the innocer means whereby unauthorized persons ma
 engage in the illicit use and traffic
 these habit forming drugs. PrescriT
 tions in this class of cases should bea the endorsement of a reputable physicia to the effect that the patient is aged an , infirm giving age and certifying that tf , drug is necessary to sustain life. Doctors are required to submit a | facts in the case of persons sufferln from an incurable disease or an age } and infrm addict to the collector of il . ternal revenue, giving the name, addre' , and age of the patient and the disea:
 from which he or she is suffering.
 the case of an aged and infrm addi
 it is necessary to state the length
 time the person has been using the drt l and the amount necessary in order l sustain life.
 If investigation shows that it Is wa ranted, written permission is given u doctor to issue prescriptions for na : : cotic drugs to the patient who must < personally attended by him in his pr !, fessional practice"