THE DRUG HABIT

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 49

THE DRUG HABIT

GAINING HEADWAY IN AUSTRALIA. CHECK IN NEW ZEALAND Niv ESSARYL CHRISTCHURCH, September 29. “ The drug habit is not widespread in Now Zealand," said a Christchurch chemist this morning when shown a message to the effect that the evil is gaming headway m some of the Australian ernes “Of course, there are a certain number of people about addicted to the use of drugs. Years ago women occasionally got tne habit as a result of being given tincture of opium to relieve the pains of childbirth. 1 o day the habit mav start through a prescription given by a doctor. Many patients consider a prescription their own property, but 1 use lav own discretion on the matter. those people get to know what drug was ordered bv a doctor, and endeavour to get further supplies. NVe never supply drugs without a physician’s prescription, but there are always applicants who come m without a proper form. AVe turn them down smtp.y because there is no medical check on them. Within the last week an apparently healthy man said he was suffering front brain trouble as the result, of active service, and asked for a certain drug. He said lie had been given it in Australia, end could not do without it. We referred him to a doctor. If that man gels the drug us easily in New Zealand a* he got it in Australia the habit will surely grow on bun. and he will be a drug fiend. Any doctor or chemist can tell a drug fiend at once. Cocaine is usually taken first of all its a stimulant while morphia is taken in the beginning- for the relief of pain. Cocaine produces delusions, usually of persecution, and a cocaine ‘doper’ is liable to turn on bis best friend. In Christchurch I have known only one genuine cocaine fiend during the last two years. What is causing a lot of barm in New Zealand is narcotic medicine. —quack productions —sold through grocers. There ;s not half enough < heck on that stuff, and it is causing serious harm. Ibe evil eould he coped with if Ihe Health Department would work in wilh the chemists.’’