EASY SALE OF DRUGS

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 6

EASY SALE OF DRUGS

SOCIAL HOOKER'S ALLEGATIOHB [Special to the ‘Stab.’] . \ CHRISTCHURCH, June 11. “In reference to the sale of drugs, • said Mrs A. E. Herbert to a ‘ Star ’ reporter, “ I see that a wholesale druggist of Dunedin says many people who nave spoken since tne allegations were made don’t know what they are talking about. One lady said that the Drug Act had not been amended for fifty years, etc. She was wrong, for about five years ago the Poisons Act was introduced, and it has been the means of effectively controlling the sale of drugs.”- “ Tho lady referred to,” she went on, “is myself, for I made those statements, and I know I am correct in my statements, too. A year ago this month I referred to the number of drug addicts I had come in contact with who were taking very largo quantities of morphia, etc., and who seemed to have no difficulty in procuring it. When the facts were published many chemists scouted tho idea that it was possible, and my statement that one woman was taking £2 worth of morphia a week was hardly credited. The president of the Pharmacy Association called on me, and I gave him the names of quite a number of persons who were drug addicts, and also gave him the name of the chemist in Christchurch who was supplying huge quantities. This woman had got £l2, £l6, and £2O worth at a time; and I was able to produce the receipts, and to show where the chemist had written to this person informing her when a shipment would be to hand. We also placed a drug addict in one of the hospital institutions, and he received a largo quantity or morphia and a hypodermic syringe by post. Another woman in an institution received large quantities from an Auckland chemist. “ I learned that the old Act did not cover the sale of narcotics, and that, as far as the Act was concerned, _ a chemist could sell as much morphia, heroin, and other narcotics as he chose, so long as it was labelled poison. Fortunately the Pharmacy Association is anxious to check the sale of these dangerous drugs, and it has a moral obligation not to supply unless with a doctor’s prescription; also, if members are suspicious of a patient, they pass a chain message around. However, all chemists do not belong to the association, and there are always some people ready to make money, even if it aids another’s downfall. 'The Christchurch Pharmacy Association has urged the Government to amend the Act time and time again, and the Christchurch branch of the British Medical Association and the Hospital Board have carried resolutions also urging an amendment. I have endeavored to bring the matter before every organisation, hoping that something would be done. The Minister assured us that a Bill is prepared, a Dangerous Drug Act, and it will be introduced this session. I know the Poisons Act has been amended, but only to deal with such poisons ns arsenic, strychnine, lysol. etc., and not morphia and other narcotics. lam indeed surprised that a wholesale druggist is not more conversant with the Act.” NARCOTIC REGULATIONS DRUGGIST EXPLAINS ACT i PREVENTION OF ILLICIT TRAFFIC ’ ~ | “ If any are selling drugs, they must be doing so illegally, but now they can <b so without coming into contact with (be Customs I don’t know,” stated tho druggist mentioned by Mrs Herbert when her statements were referred to him to-day. Replying to Mrs Herbert’s comments on needed amendments to tho Poisons Act, he stated that tbere was no need to amend it, as there was much power given by the regulations known as tho “ O.M.H.G. Act ” of 1921, under the Opium Act of 1903 and the Treaties of Peace Act, 1919. That Act covered tho importation and sale of narcotics, such as opium, morphine, heroin, and cocaine. ; Clause 3 states; “Nn person shall ; import into or export from New Zealand opium, morphine, heroin, or cocaine without a permit from the Minister of Customs.” The Collector of Customs may provisionally veto tho exportation of any of those narcotics wherever on any grounds he is not satisfied as to the purpose of such exportation or as to tho ultimate destination. Wherever such veto is exercised tho circumstances are to be reported to tho Minister for confirmation of the veto or otherwise. In judging tho propriety of exercising _ any veto of exportation tho Minister and the collector shall take into consideration the terms of Article 13 of the International Opium Convention, signed at The Hague on January_ 23, 1912, as follows The contracting P.owors shall use their best endeavors to adopt, or cause to be adopted, measures to ensure that morphine, cocaine, and their respective salts shall not be exported from their countries, _ possessions, colonies, and leased territories to tho countries, pos- / sessions, colonies, and leased territories of tho other contracting Powers except when consigned to persons furnished with the licenses or permits provided for by_ the laws or regulations of the importing country. With this object each. Government may communicate from time to time to the Governments of tho exporting countries lists of the persons to whom licenses or permits for tho import of morphine cocaine, and their respective salts have been granted.”

An O.M.H.C. book is issued to every chemist and retailer. Except when the drugs are sold to a registered medical practitioner, a duly qualified veterinary surgeon, a registered chemist, a manufacturing chemist, a hospital board, a dentist, the licensee or manager of a private hospital, or any such person approved by the Minister, the drugs must be signed for. In any case, all particulars of the sale are recorded in the book. On March 31 and September 30 the importer and exporter shall take stock and balance his O.M.H.C. book. In the event of tha amount of the drug in tha books failing to correspond with the amount actually in stock he shall enter in the book the explanation of the cause of the discrepancy. On reasonable request the O.M.H.C. book must be shown tor inspection to the collector or other officers of Customs, a constable, or any person appointed by the Minister. ■ That Act, said_ the druggist, stopped the illicit sale of drugs. Jlrs Herbert had stated that large quantities©! drugs were being obtained from chemists. What did she mean by large quantities? he asked. The usual quantity for medicinal purposes was i to 1 gram of morphine. • A drug addict could take from 10 to 20 grains per day. In saying that large quantities; were being used, Mrs Herbert might have meant an ounce or more. There were 437| grains of morphia in an ounce of the drug. He was sure chemists were not practising an illegal trade in drugs. Morphine was prescribed by doctors for patients with incurable cancer, so that the excruciating pain was alleviated. He again stressed the point that chemists would hardly risk their licenses by carrying on a drug traffic. An amendment to the Act at present in force in England was proposed, he stated. It would deal with the sale of certain sleep-producing drugs, known as hypnotics, such as veronal, sulphoaal, lumonal, etc.