The Washington times., 1923-11-14
HAVE
FAILED IN
NAL
TEST
.Dr. SomerviIIe Says Public
Should Learn Addiction Is
Disease. Not Vice.

grams ret formulated for check
ing the narcotic drug menace IN
America was outlined today be-
fore an enthusiastic group Of ply
sicians, composing the section On
neurology and psychology 81 the
Southern Medical Association, BY
Dr.. w. G. Bonneville, Of Memphis,
Tenn, an authority on drug ad-
diction and curative methods.
Former Measures Fan.
AT the very outset Of his address,
DR.. sOmerville declared that I'll meas
ures yet devised. included the much.
heralded Harrison act had failed.
utterly or III great measure. Ii the
war against the curse that shadows
/ 900, 900 homes Of the nation.
he pleaded also for q change Of
heart on the part of physicians gen-
orally and public officials toward the
unfortunate victim OF narcotics. He
should be regarded as person sslfs
3ering from disease. not q perverted
soul, DIR. Eomefvfl1G asserted.
DR.. SomerviIIe would deal with
/ the situation IN summary fashion,
He advocated the following meas
uree:
1. Prison terms, instead Of f.ness
for drug bootleggers, physicians and
druggists as well az peddlers.
2. Compulsory hospital iaztiOn OF
addicts. IL necessary.
8. illumination Of the importation
and manufacture Of Iheroin, for
which. he declared, there il no use
In medicine.
4. Striking at the source Of sup
ment,. limit the growth Of the opium
poppy.
5. Education Of physicians and the
public to bring realization that
narcotic drug addiction is q disease
per Sc, and not q vice.
5--Establishment by every State
Of special sanitarias where addicts,
either by voluntary or compulsory
commitment, may receive treat
ment from skilled physicians.
illumination OF all illegal chan
nels Of supply by proper Federal
supervision and drastic laws en-
failing long terms Of imprison
ment for drug, boOtleggers, and all
violators Of the Harrison law.
Million Adaicts Here
.sThere are In the United States
today" said DR.. Somerville, one
million persons addicted to opium
or one OF its derivatives, morphine
heroin, or codeine, and this In the
face Of the Harrison narcotic law.
No further argument is necessary
to prove the seriousness OF the
situation, and the nation is depend
ing upon us for help, for advice, f0r
some suggestion as to what meth
DDS to pursue.
s'The public, and physicians as
rule. consider drug addiction
| vicious habit or moral perversion
We now know, however, that drug
addiction is q disease, pathological
condition, or to be more exact. l
would say that the craving Tor
opium or its derivatives. Is as much
q symptom Of disease as pain - 81
peritonitis and pleNrisy.
'It 10 not my purpose to NE the
responsibility for beginning the habit
on anv one. Physicians and drug
gists have been blamed for It and
doubtless in many cases this Is true
but many take it up themselves to
obtain relief from some physical or
mental discomfort. 1t has happened
repeatedly that the physician,
through ignorance of results, has
made morphine addicts Of alcoholics
BY giving hypoderInics to relieve
the distress following a spree; and 1t
il not surprising that large per-
centage of drug addicts were for
marly Alcoholics.
eve do believe. however, that all
drug addicts. and particularly the
physician addict. are distinct men
ace, making addicts of members of
their family and of their friends"