The Washington times., 1921-10-28
'l,00O,OOO|NU.S.
ARED0PEF|ENDS,
| INQUIRY SHOWS
Illicit Use and PsddIing Of
Drugs on Increase. Treasury
Probe Reveals.

| Despite the fact that a dozen or
more synthetic substitutes for cocaine
have been put on the market during
recent years. the use OF cocaine has
not diminished. according to health
| officials.
Cocaine was first introduced into
this country about thirty years ago.
and at the present time the annual
consumption OF coca leaves. from
which cocaine is obtained. amounts
to 1.04s.250 pounds. This condition
prevails In spite OF the fact that there
are now In use a dozen or more syn
thetic substitutes which would
naturally be expected TO diminish the
amount of cocaine used In proportion
TO the extent to which these substi-
tutes are employed. This fact shows
that there is undoubtedly a large
quantity OF cocaine used for illegiti-
mate purposes, namely. for the salts.
faction of addiction.
Imports Increase.
Statistics compiled by the Depart.
ment of Commerce show that tho
quantities Of narcotic drugs imported
into this country has steadily in
creased until the chief sources of sup
ply were cut off during the war.
In recent report on drug addicts
a committee appointed by the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury said:
quantities OF opium and coca
leaves, in their crude state and In the
form of manufactured products. were
supplied to the public through a total
OF 233,491 individuals and institutions !
registered under the Harrison narcotic |
act. The minimum value OF these |
drugs computed on the basis of retail |
price Of the crude material would be |
something over $50. 900 900. The actual |
cost to the consumer. while IL greatly |
exceeds this amount. cannot be esti- |
mated at the present time. When we |
take into consideration the fact that |
various investigators have stated that |
only from 10 to rs per cent of the |
quantities of these drugs imported In |
actually needed to supply the deman nd |
for legitimate medical purposes. we
can arrive at some idea of the guam
titles Of these drugs consumed by ad-
diets and the amount Of money ex.
pended for the satisfaction of their
addiction.
Peddlers Numerous.
I'm recent years, especially since
the enactment of the Harrison law,
the traffic by Underground" chan
nels has increased enormously, and
at the present time 1t is believed to be
equally as extensive as that carried
on in legitimate manner. This
traffic is chiefly in the hands Of So
called dope peddlers." who obtain
their supplies by smuggling from
Canada, Mexico, and along the At
lantic and Pacific coasts.
'The number of individuals addicted
to the use of opium. its preparations
or alkalcfds, and coca leaves. their
preparations and allxaIoids, in the
United States has, at various times,
been estimated to be from 200, 900 to
10000 These estimates must. how.
ever, be looked upon as mere suesses
In most cases because Of the fact that
there have been no means available
for reaching an accurate estimate in
the past.
owing to the lack of laws and
regulations making It compulsory for
the registration of addicts throughout
the country or the keeping of any
records as to their identity, II has
been impossible for the committee to
obtain information which would give
the exact number of addicts in the
United States at the present time
Information in the hands of the
indicates that drug addic-
ton Is less prevalent in rural COM
munities than in cities or in congested
centers. 1t would. therefore, be un-
fair to estimate he number Of addicts
In the entire country on the basis of |
the figures obtained for New York
city. Furthermore. 1t is the opinion
OF the committee that an estimate
based on the number of addicts In a 1
small city like Jacksonyille Fla II
would not be representative for the \
entire country. Taking these facts
INTO consideration, the committee In
OF the opinion that the total number \
of addicts in this country probably ex-
ceeds 900, 900 at the present time II