DRUG EVIL CAUSES ALARM IN SYDNEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18016, 29 November 1926, Page 7

DRUG EVIL CAUSES ALARM IN SYDNEY.

DOCTOR URGES WAR ON “ ALCOHOLIC POISON.” (Special to the “Star.”) SYDNEY, November 13. In the Assembly, during the second reading debate on the Dangerous Drugs Bill, Dr Arthur made a fervent appeal for the inclusion of alcohol in the list. The medical profession, he said, regarded opium and cocaine as the most valuable drugs they possessed, because of their inestimable quality in relieving pain. Care, therefore, had to be exercised in any legislation that might interfere with the medical profession in securing supplies of these drugs. The Bill proposed that the 3 5 harmacy Board should administer the Act, and, as doctors regarded this board as being subsidiary to medical men, he protested against such power being vested in the Pharmacy Board. In committee, he proposed moving that ethylfc alcohol should be included among the dangerous drugs covered by the Act. This drug was in all intoxicants. Not more than half a dozen cases of opium and cocaine poisoning were treated at the Sydney Hospital a year. “ But,” he went on, “ if the Chief Secretary likes to come with me to the casualty room at the Sydney Hospital, any Saturday night or on holidays, he will see the stomach pump being applied to dozens of cases of acute alcoholic poisoning. Girls of fourteen, fifteen and sixteen years are carried unconscious into the casualty ward, and they have to be brought back to consciousness with the stomach pump. Half the crimes of violence are brought about by alcoholic poisoning, while opium smokers want to keep quiet and be alone.” As ethylic alcohol was really wine* and beer, Dr Arthur admitted that it would be difficult to cover it in the Bill, but, if it were possible, he would have it included. He had been told that the engine crew of an express train who were removed from their locomotive because of their drunken condition. and had been dismissed, had since been reinstated. Mr Lane asserted that drugs were

used in many wine bars and hotels in Sydney. On Saturday afternoons men were rendered absolutely incapable in wine bars within half an hour. A member: What is the drug used? Mr Lane; The wine is so fortified with alcohol that men soon are helpless. Mr Thorby made an appeal that cantharides should be included as a drug in the BilL The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The Bill provides that morphine, cocaine, eegonine and diamorphine (commonly known as heroin), and their respective salts or substances containing not less than 3-Joths per cent of morphine or 2-10ths per cent of cocaine, or 1-loth per cent of eegonine or diamorphine, shall not be held, manufactured or supplied except by a person licensed or authorised under the regulations, or has had such drug supplied for his use by means of a prescription complying with the regulations. In committee, the Chief Secretary told Dr Arthur that every doctor, chemist, registered dentist and veterinary surgeon would have to apply to the board for a certificate authorising him to hold the drugs referred to in the BilL The license fee would be nominal. A medical man would have to keep a record of the quantities of the drugs he used. Mr Drummond sought to amend the penalty clause in the Bill by making the maximum fine for breaches £IOOO instead of £250, and the maximum imprisonment ten years instead of twelve months. The Chief Secretary said that the penalties provided in the Bill were the maximum which Magistrates could impose. To give effect to Mr Drummond’s amendment, many drastic alterations of a Magistrate’s powers would be necessary. The police had recommended a fine up to £250 and imprisonment up to twelve months. The Bill passed through committee, and the third reading was made the order for tomorrow.