The Drug Lie Nailed

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1922, Page 3

The Drug Lie Nailed

The liquor traffic in N.Z. is tins month circulating the following statement regarding alleged drug addiction in the U.S.A.:—In 1919 the import of opium was 7o(),0()01hs. in 1920 it jumped to 1.100,000 lbs.” Official figures supplied direct by the U.S. Department of Foreign Commerce give the import ol opium for 1919 as 310,7131!*., which is less than half what the liquor traffic pays it wrs. Ju 1920 the import was 22L1521b5, or just about one fifth or what t)ic liquor traffic says it was. Tn 1921 the import was only 9G,GGBIbs. Taking round figures the imports of cocaine into tlie U.S.A. in 1919 wero 12,000 o/.5.. and in 1921. 7,000 ozs; morphia in 1919 was 15,000 ozs and in 1921, 3,100 i zs. These immense reductions the liquor traffic calls “an alarming increase.” This is one only, hut a

j typical sample, of the liquor traffic mis- j j representations about the effects of proj hibition in the U.S.A. I Ask the liquor traffic if any drug evil ! is found in No-license districts of N.Z. J Ask them, to ), how they make this nli leged increase in drug-taking because | of th<> absence of alcohol, square with I their statements that there is morSS | drinking than ever in the U.S.A. siiue , prohibition. If folks are gottiuß the j drink why do they need the drugs? I And if tlie liquor traffic will use cooked I figures to mislead you about drugs, can

I you trust anything else they say about i prohibition? Keep your eye on the J liquor lie when the ‘Trade is talking

i prohibition.—N.Z. Alliance- Publicity [ (66).