The Washington times., 1929-01-07
Of.
ADDICT s
GIVEN As
100000
BY ROBERT 8. THORNBURGH
international News Service

international news service
Urging a more strict control over
the worldwide drug traffic under
the International Opium Conven'
ton of 1912, the United States
Narcotics Control Board today sub
mitted it's formal report to the
advisory drug committee of the
League of Nations.
The Control Board, consisting Of
the Secretaries of State, Treasury
and Commerce, declared that the
Government must, continue to report
that there are large quantities of
narcotic drugs, smuggled into this
country but that dope addiction
in the United States probably is
on the decline.
Since the report was prepared
millions of dollars worth of danger
GUS drugs have been seized in a
nationwide roundup of the so-called
Rothstein ring. This drive, con-
Quoted by Col. l.. G. Mutt, head of
the Treasury Narcotic Division. is
probably one of the most note
worthy. staged by the Government
since the Harrison law was passed.
National Study Made
During the year the Narcotics
Control Board made a national
study of addiction, according to
the report. Recognizing that
statistics compiled must neces-
sarily be inaccurate, the report
nevertheless said:
The consensus of opinion among
officers. who may be termed experts
as to this field of inquiry, is that
the total number of narcotic drug
addicts in United States is decreas.
ing, and that the average age Of
such addicts is increasing, indl-
eating that few. If any. recruits are
being made to the ranks of the
habitues and perhaps none of the
more youthful.
100000 Addicts
Based upon the inquiry, and
the results. of two surveys made by
field officers, the Government is in
clined to the opinion that there are
not more than 100000 narcotic
addicts in continental United States
at present, these figures represent
ing very liberal estimate"
The smuggling situation was
termed serious. The chief products
illicitly entered through the eastern
ports are morphine, hydrochloride,
heroin and cocaine. Large quanti-
ties of opium are being unlawfully
introduced into United States, par
ticularly along the Pacific Coast,
from ports in the Orient.
Four principal factors for large
smuggling were:
l. Voluminous commerce.
2. Facility with which the drugs
may be concealed.
8. Resourcefulness and ingenuity
of the criminals engaged in the
traffic.
4, Extensive coast and border
lines, combining to make very
difficult the task Of enforcement
officers.
The report said the efforts of the
Government to control the con-
sumption of dangerous drugs are
being nullified to an alarming ex-
tent by the activities of smugglers
who appear to find little difficulty |
in acquiring large quantities of |
drugs for the purpose Of introducing |
them secretly into United States"
This situation suggested to the |
control board "the desirability of a |
measure of control in countries
other than United States, over the
transfer, and export
Of drugs, which would prevent their
sale to any but licensed importers
in the countries which maintain an
import license system, or in the
case of countries which do not have
such a system, to any but reputable
firms or individuals and in guam.
titles commensurate with the esti-
mated legitimate medical needs"