Pages

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Drug Addiction - Not A New Problem In the U.S.

Published in the Anderson Daily Bulletin

June 13, 1919



Million Drug Addicts in U.S.


Associated Press Service
Washington, June 13--Nation-wide use of narcotic drugs for other than legitimate medical purposes, steadily increasing despite vigorous efforts in the last four years in the enforcement of the federal law, was discovered by the treasury's special investigating committee, which submitted a final report today.  The number of drug addicts in the United States was estimated to be in excess of 1,000,000.  The committee found that imports of opium into the United States have increased twice as fast as the growth in population.  Imports of cocoa leaves from which cocaine is made also have grown steadily.

It has been stated about 90 percent of the amount of these drugs entered for consumption is used for other than medical purposes."  the report said.  "While this statement is probably extreme, a comparison of the per capita consumption in this country with that of other countries indicates that this country consumes from 13 to 72 times as much opium per capita as other countries."

No comments:

Post a Comment