Opinion ID: 1789370
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Is Paregoric a Narcotic Drug?

Text: For the first time in this criminal prosecution the claim is advanced that paregoric is not a narcotic drug within the meaning of sec. 161.02 (3), Stats., under which defendant was convicted. This statute provides in part: No person shall take or use narcotic drugs habitually or excessively or except in pursuance to a prescription for permitted use as prescribed in this chapter. Sec. 161.01 (14) defines narcotic drugs, as used in ch. 161, Stats., so as to include any compound containing opium. A licensed pharmacist testified that the component parts of paregoric are opium, alcohol, benzoic acid, and oil of anise. Sec. 161.06 (1) (a) and (b), Stats., authorizes an apothecary to dispense narcotic drugs upon prescription under certain restrictions. Sub. (c) of sec. 161.06 (1) then provides, The provisions of this subsection shall apply to paregoric. Defendant bases his contention that paregoric is not a narcotic drug within the meaning of sec. 161.02 (3), upon this latter specific mention of paregoric in the subsection relating to apothecaries filling prescriptions for narcotic drugs, and argues that the canon of statutory construction, expressio unius est exclusio alterius, applies. We reject this contention of defendant since we are satisfied that the specific provision of sec. 161.06 (1) (c), Stats., was inserted by the legislature for purposes of emphasis because paregoric is frequently among the exempt narcotic preparations listed in the statutes of other states and in the Harrison Narcotics Act. It serves as an express warning to pharmacists that they may only dispense paregoric pursuant to prescription. The definition which controls is that of sec. 161.01 (14), and that clearly includes paregoric.