The New York herald., 1922-03-24

/
citation and of the use of drugs by
| criminals whose nerves are steadied
| and whose courage Is augmented by
the use of heroin, morphine or CO.
caine.
In tLis series of articles. however,
the effort has been made to keep away
from the btGten path and to dwell, In
| a measure at least, on the funda-
mentals of a situation existing to-day
and having very serious aspects; to
avoid what is merely picturesque and
interesting, even though awful, and
deal with what Ia OF actual impor.-
tance. Thus, there Eas been shown
so far:
That drug addiction is national
matter and a national menace. with
perhaps 100000 people, given to the
habitual use OF narcotic drugs.
That there has recently been a
marked growth in drug addiction and
| that this growth Is noticeable prac-
| tically everywhere.
| That the growth referred to is re-
dected in statistics of many kinds, in
Guiding court records, prison records,
hospital records and figures OF i'm
ports and exports.
Too Much Opium Imported.
/ That apparently much more opium
than can be properly used is being
brought into the country. not casually
but by requisition OF the Government
That smuggling has been on the in
i t. tel, ta6 n
governmental agencies are wholly un-
able to cope either with the smugglers
or the Illicit traders.
That there is an international aspect
worthy of attention inasmuch as in
| quiry by this Government as to the
needs of other countries was instantly
reflected in the export figures.
| That a controversy among special
lists and doctors over a method OF
treatment has divided the force that
should be sclidly arrayed to fight the
peddlers and the smugglers and save
the addicts.
There remain two principal topics OF
discussion, the causes OF drug addic-
tion and the possible remedies.
1t is two years since nationwide pro-
hibition went into effect. In those tive
years the statement has frequently
been made that prohibition is, in part
responsible for the spread Of drug ad-
diction. TINE NEW YORK HERALD has
not found proof to support this con-
tention. The data gathered has shown
rather that there is no real connection
between alcoholic addiction and drug
addiction.
Some hold the opinion, however. that
deprived of drink, men have turned to
something else that, in their estima-
ton, may give them n similar result
! DR.. Royal s. Copeland, Health Commits
sioner Of New York, holds this opinion
| to a degree at least, for he says:
| 81 think there has been more opium
addiction since the passage OF the pro-
hibition act. Some alcoholic sddicts
are now undoubtedly opium addicts."
In Washington Federal enforcement
officers, who naturally know some
thing of the situation, assert that
there las not been a marked increase
in drug addiction since prohibition, but
that the liquor prohibition law has
served to emphasize the evidence OF
the use of drugs.
Doubts Dry Law IL Cause.
| On tho other hand. a high official in
the Department Of Justice said to the
representative OF THs NEw York
! HERALp:
That the increase in the use OF
drugs Is due to the liquor prohibition
law cannot be proved. There Is not
the slightest bit OF evidence to support
that theory"
This phase is like so many phases OF
this peculiar questionable unknown
factor enters, but it's weight is unds-
termInable.
1t is very generally thought that
drug addiction results from the use
OF drugs as medicine, but here again a
difference OF opinion appears. That
there Is no known substitute for NOR
phins and of equal worth as an al
leviative of pain is generally conceded,
but Or. Copeland says:
Drug addiction IL not the fault of
the doctors. The medical profession In
not responsible. and the number OF
drug addiction cases that can be traced
back to the doctors is negligible"
on the other hand. the special COM
mittee OF two years ago appointed by
the Secretary Of the Treasury found:
with respect TO the addict OF good
social standing. the evidence obtained
by the committee points to the ply
sician as the agent through whom the
habit In acquired In the majority OF
cases Some. however, became ad-
dicted to the use of these drugs
through self-medication, while few
first indulged as a social diversion"
There is agreement pretty generally.
that, especially among those already
| low down on the social ladder. the
criminal classes, the underworld types.
addiction results largely from associs-
ton. Treating Is not unknown, and
the easily handled heroin seems to be
the favorite Snow" Addiction follow
ing experimentation, the Just to see
how II feels sort, Is rare. apparently.
but found, nevertheless.