The New York herald., 1922-03-20

in 1916 made an investigation in Ten
nessee which led him TO state there
werc 5000 addicts in Tennessee, or
o.22 per cent OF the population of the
state. In the same year Jeanette
Marks gave the opium cocaine addicts
as numbering 1000, 900, or per cent.
Of the total population"
More Than Million Anyway.
After citing n dozen more instances
of conflicting reports and stressing the
utter impossibility of taking a census,
the committee says:
1T appears that a more accurate
estimate of the total number of ad-
| diets may be obtained from the data
secured by those investigators who
have made an intensive study of drug
addiction in certain restricted commu-
mites. Upon this basis the total num-
ber of addicts IN 1918. taking the esti-
mated population at 10e. .o0o, 900. would
be 1.3SS.600 The Health Officer of
New York reported total OF 1885,
! addicts, which is equivalent to is per
cent. of the population. On this basis
there would be 100000 addlcts in the
Lnlted States
But the committee agreed it would
not be fair to take conditions in Jack
sonville or New York as representa-
tive, and added:
i Taking these facts into considera-
ton the committee is of the opinion
that the total number of addicts in
this country probably exceeds 1,0O0,-
0O0."
Here then. in one official report are
estimates ranging from 200. 900 to
100000. 1t should be remembered
too. that these are based on known
addicts. Authorities say that the
pumbcr OF unknown addicts is at
least equal to the number of known
addicts. II seems quite fair. there
4 fore. bearing in mind possible miscal-
culations as TO ratio, to say the num-
Der of addicts Is more than / 900 900
and possibly 100000.
Smoking Ont the Unknovns.
| Now in connection with nearly all
of these phases of the existing situa-
ton. there are mitigating circum-
stances that should not be overlooked
For instance, in good times, when
most persons are fairly prosperous.
an addict in fair circumstances can
obtain the drug he believes he needs
OF actually needs. with little difficulty.
Straitenc1 circumstances. unemploy-
neent high cost OF living change the
/ condition ana the unknown addict
rises to the surface. seeking relief,
1 At
drug or help of any sort. Another
case OF addiction then is recorded. the
number OF known addicts is added to-
but. actually, the situation has not
changed in the least.
Then there is the matter of agita-
tion and repressive measures. Since
the passage of the prohibition law
there has been a great deal of talk
about drug addiction. The charge has
been made by the vets that the cut
ting Off Of alcohol would drive some
persons to the use of drugs. There
has been more discussion. generally,
of addiction and the use OF narcotics.
Branches OF government not before
interested have gathered statistics
on matters related to the use of drugs.
have acted in response to public in
terest in the matter. Narcotic squads
have been formed and have made
raids.
All OF these things have served TO
bring the topic forward generally, with
the result of an appearance OF in
creased drug addiction. The actual
increase, as far as 1t can be measured,
does not seem as great as one might
be led to believe. On this point Or.
Royal s. Copeland Health Commits
sioner of New York, says:
II am of the opinion that there has
been an increase in addiction, but 1t is
not an alarming increase"
Finds Increase Undesirable.
Justice in Washington had this to say:
From every section OF the country
come reports, undeniable reports, that
the use of narcotics is on the increase.
Some of the confidential information
we have-information am not at lib
ertv to divulge-shows that. while the
passage OF the narcotic law has served
to check the outlet OF drugs through
legitimate channels. II has done moth
ing to really reduce the amount used
in this country. The stricter the mar
cotic agents are the more active tho
smugglers become.
"I do not know what is responsible
for the increase in the use OF drugs. |
can say from tho short study we have
made or the conditions that the use OF
drugs goes hand In hand with the gem
cral increase in lawlessness so notice
able during the last three years. That
it is due TO the liquor prohibition law
cannot be proved. There is not tho
slightest bit Of evidence to support
that theory The increase is no great
er than the increase in hurglaries, the
increase in general immortality, nor
the increase In embezzlements."
The Department OF Justice. how
ever, takes the situation so seriously
that in order to determine the cause
of the growth In the use of narcotics
orders recently were issued for spe-
cific reports from the heads OF Federal
prisons on the number OF persons re-
ceived on convictions OF violation Of
the Narcotic Act.