America’s Problems

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 23

America’s Problems

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copj/rlpht)

WASHINGTON, May 9.

United States Government health officials have pictured America as beset with burgeoning problems of alcoholism, metal illness, venereal disease and drugs. Such a picture is painted by Dr William Stewart, the United States SurgeonGeneral, Dr Stanley Yolles, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, and Dr David Sencer, Director of the National Communicable Disease Centre. They have reported to a sub-committee that there are now up to 6} million alcoholic* in the United States and that their numbers grow by 200,000 every year. An increasing percentage are married, middle-aged women of the middle and upper classes. The health officials say that gonorrhoea 1* out of control, with a 12 per cent increase in the number of cases reported in each of the last few years. In some population groups, one in three have this venereal disease and do not know it All economic groups and all age groups are involved in taking the “mind-expanding” drug LSD, but its use is falling off in colleges and high schools because of the publicity given to it* dangers, the doctor* report