BRITISH WARNING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 9, 10 July 1935, Page 18

BRITISH WARNING

DRUG-TAKING GROWS

A warning that Britain is becoming a nation of drug-takers was given at the annual meeting of the British Dental Association at Plymouth, says the "Manchester Guardian."

Dr. H. T. Roper-Hall, of Birmingham, in a paper on "Seaatives in Dentistry," said that much of the fear and pain associated with dental surgery could be alleviated by the proper use of drugs, but it was well to remember not to give too large doses as they might interfere with the occupation of the patient. Especially was that the case with patients who drove their own cars when it was remembered that one of the charges * now possible was driving a car while under the influence of drugs. "I think also," he added, "that it is unwise to mention to the patient what drug is being used as it may lead to habits-formation, for they are widely used nowadays as drugs of addiction and the question of bringing them under the Dangerous Drugs Act regulations is being considered by the Home Office in conjunction with the British Medical Association.

Colonel H. F. Humphreys, of Hamp-ton-in-Arden, said the habit of private drug-taking in England was very much on the increase. "The advertisement pages of the Press and even the letterboxes of the ordinary individual are flooded with specious advertisements announcing that if people take this or that drug they will feel very much better than ever before," he added. "The result has been a big increase in indiscriminate drug-taking and most doctors will agree that a great deal of harm is being done in this way. We must not induce the drug-taking habit." FEAR AND PAIN. Dr. R. N. Craig, of Exeter, said one reason for the increase in private drugtaking was the ease with which drugs could be obtained. "The Dangerous Drugs Act completely fails in some respects," he said. He named a particular drug, which he described as "an extraordinarily powerful addiction," which could be obtained over the counter just like petrol without any restriction whatever. "It is extra,ordinary that such a powerful and dangerous drug can be obtained so easily," he said.

Dr. Roper-Hall said the law was being tightened, but the trouble was that people did not know how dangerous the'drugs were until they tried them. < ■ .

"Fear is more pain than the pain it 'fears." This quotation from Sir Philip Sidney was made during a discussion on "the psychology of the patient." In his paper on the subject Dr. R. Craig, of Exeter, said factors which contributed to the behaviour of the normal individual were, instinct, sentiment, and temperament. There were physical accompaniments .to every emotion. "If I drive my car and nearly have an accident," he said, "some minutes afterwards, not immediately, I shall experience a quickening pulse, palpitations, dry mouth, sweating hands, and an epigastric sensation which may be so pronounced as to give very great physical discomfort. Variations of them exist whenever the emotion of fear is aroused." •

Mr. J. Lewin Payne, of London, said that in days gone by the dental'surgery was looked upon as a torture chamber only to be visited in order to get rid of some much greater suffering.' "We should not stress the old idea that pain must be suffered in order -to make people brave," he added. "Anything we can do safely which will minimise the dread of the dental chair should be done."