DRUG ADDICTION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9224, 2 July 1926, Page 4

DRUG ADDICTION

The prevent ion and anest of drug addiction "'as the subject dealt with by Sir William Willcox, president of (he Society lor the Study of Inebriety, addressing the society in London. Drug, addiction was not very prevalent in this country, said Sir William, but parts of the British Empire were places where addiction drugs were being grown and produced, and in parts of the Empire drug addiction was very prevalent. In America drug, addiction was a very serious problem indeed, and it had been estimated that in the United States there were ever 1,000,000 drug addicts, and in the city of New York 1.8 per cent, of the population were addicts.

“Drug addiction is a disease taiher than a vice,’- added Sir William. “and. like other diseases, it is infectious. It is spread by .psy-cho-therapeutic methods, one person influencing another. Drug addiction is a real menace to the world, and it is necessary that Britain should play its part in the fight against this menace. It is a world-wide, question.” We were immeasurably more successful in this country in controlling traffic in addiction drugs than were the Americans, and an enormous amount of drugs got to the public

in America iu illegal ways. It was I of the utmost importance that mem- I bers of the medical profession and | students should realise that it was t only in exceptional cases that mor- I phia and such drugs should be pre. I scribed, especially if used hypoder. I mically. Other drugs should, if : I possible, be administered and these i dangerous drugs should never be I employed for the relief of mental’ | strain, worry, grief, or distress. As - | a profession doctors were extraor. | dinarily careful iu the prescription | of addiction drugs. No members of i me public should take any of these | drugs out of curiosity or a« a ® stimulant. Sometimes people took ! small doses of morphia or opium before undergoing some great menlal strain.

Sir William instanced one case of a distinguished person who before any very arduous lecture took & very small dose cf a drug, and another of a young student who had failed iu his final examination time after time. Eventually he was given an opium pill, and passed successfully.

“I have known medical students who have taken drugs to see what it was like." declared the speaker,

"and 1 have known them die through it. Then 1 know of a brilliant man. who has one of the strongest wills of my experience, who took morphia for pain, amt said. Other people must not take it , but I have a strong will.’ He t ; been an addict for fifteen years. I do not believe anyone lias a st ivnjg enough will to withstand drug addiction if they take the drug for one month or more. Thu finest brains in the world may become affected.’’