NARCOTIC DRUGS

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 4, 1 May 1947, Page 6

NARCOTIC DRUGS

Although the terrible evil of Drug addiction lias not as yet become one ot New Zealand’s problems, we are informed that it is a thing to be reckoned with even here. Statistics are not readily available, and we are unable to sj>eak with any authority, but the following article from the Wcydd Siqierintenduit of the Narcotic Drugs Department, should be read carefully by all members of our Union.

NARCOTIC DRUGS DEPARTMENT Supt., Mrs. Loretta M. Hovnian. 507 West 59th St., Apt. 2 RE, New' York, N.Y., U S A. lanuarv 10, 1947.

Dear Friends, — As 1 am now on furlough after se\en years in the Near East as Secretary for the World’s W.C. T.U., this letter goes to you from the United States with all good wishes for you and your work in 1947. May I ask *hat you send me reports of your activities and of conditions and problems in your countries to reach the above address not later than May Ist, so that they can be used in a summary for the World’s Convention. It is needful that we be always active in opposing this narcotic vice which surcharges the needless misery of drug addiction on a world already suffering. However, World’s Narcotic Week, February 21-28 can give added stimulus by press work (articles and short notes), by radio, in schools, churches, clubs and meetings of all kinds. Three years ago Prime Minister McKenzie King of Canada wrote: “Just when we most need to be clear-headed, in order to face the hard facts before us, there is all too frequently a very real inclination to give way to dangerous tendencies merely as an escape from realities.” Much has been written, too, of the \ery real danger to servicemen in countries were drugs are easy to obtain and of the temptation to “easy money” in smuggling these between foreign countries or into their own. Nor do we forget notable work done against drugs by some of them.

You will be interested in a resume of Miss Moorhead’s article ir. the Foreign Policy Report of April 6, 1946. Before World War 11 international control of opium and other dangerous drugs was recognised as one of the most successful actions of the League of Nations. Opium treaties (conventions) were ratified by sixtv-seven nations; e>timates for medical needs were made; all legal international trade :n narcotic drugs supervised and sanctions applied. Narcotic Drug control was a notable example of international cooperation so wisely established in time of peace that it withstood the shock of war.

Advance was made during the war and a meeting held in Washington in 1942. The Judd resolution requested the State Department to urge all opium producing nations to limit production and growth to medical and scientific

needs of the world. Afghanistan replied to the note, sent by the U.S.A. to countries concerned, that its opium production was to cease. Iran, which bad signed none of the League conventions, did not reply, but in March, 1 ( 46, the Prime Minister in a radio address said in regard to “The problem of opium and its production. The smoking of opium is practised to such an extent that it will endanger the health of coming generations. I have issued orders for a commission to be appointed to study the problem and submit a report and proposals so that the necessary action can be taken to stop production of opium and the smoking of this deadly poison.” On April 10 the Council of Ministers approved a decree to prohibit cultivation for this year. *

In Japan the measures taken by the military were swift and effective. Germany presents a more complicated problem. Britain and the Netherlands said that when their Far East territories were freed, opium monopolies would cease and they would forbiu opium smoking. Most of the League Narcotics work was moved to Washington, D.C.. during the war. The new Commission on Narcotic Drugs of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations now takes over. It will, fi.st: aid*in establishing narcotic control systems broken by the war, and second; resume reports and statistics for the International organization. The member nations are fifteen: China, France, U.K., U.S.S.R., U.S.A., Canada, Egypt, India, Iran, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland Turkey and Yugoslavia. Mai... new problems and complications face this commission. A new start will have to be made and much original thinking will have to be done before the solution for the basic problem, how to insure that enough raw material for global medical ai.d scientific supplies of narcotics is produced and at the same time to insure that no surplus production i> permitted so a> to prevent abuse of this essential material. (End of resume.)

China’s efforts against opium continue and a death penalty is inflicted for persistent law’ violations. In Lebanon and Syria increased planting of hasheesh in almost inaccessible places is reported. Iran ha i a new society with the double purpose of combating opium and alcohol. Egypt’s Narcotic Bureau has lost, through retirement, Major-General Russell Pasha, who has done a notable service for Egypt and the world. This will add to the difficulty of protecting that country from its own and its neighbours’ drugs.

Hon. H. J. Anslinger, Commissioner of Narcotics in U.S.A., states, “That crime and narcotics are interwoven is illustrated by the fact that narcotic drug violators head the list of all criminals in the United States having previous fingerprint records, wihch in-

clude crimes ranging from vagrancy to robbery- and other serious offences."

It was an inspiration recently to visit Mrs. Hess whose Bulletins give such information on Medical Temperance and whose special issues of the Union Signal on Social Hygiene ami Narcotics are most \aluable. 1 quote from the former: “The Journal of the American Medical Association, July 13, 1946, issued a strong warning about the danger of adiction to Demerol. A wave of addiction is feared because ot reckless statements made in a recent widely circulated magazine article. Demerol was placed under Federal Narcotic control by the Congress, July 1, 1944, because it has addiction properties similar to morphine.” Let us emphasize the dangers of selfprescription, of sleeeping potions, of painkillers, and other unknown medicines, many of which contain narcotics and are habit-forming. Students and the public at large often display amazing ignorance as to narcotics —what they arc and what they do. They should have the information which will lead to personal abstinence and to a feeling of responsibjlity for the protection of others by proper laws and their enforcement. Let us not forget that alcohol and nicotine are narcotic drugs.

I would quote again the inspiring words of Cora F. Stoddard: “The new world that is now in the making requires strong, healthy bodies, clear minds vision, self-control. There is not place in it for the muddling and stupefying effects of a narcotic drug like alcohol in the serious relations of businesl, o 4 labour, of transportation, of social justice, of self-govern-ment. The new era cals for a sense of responsibility, for unselfishness in promoting the common good, for the self-control that deliberately chooses the J>est and passes by what will weaken, in order that out of the inheritance of many ages and many lands may come nations where liberty and justice, opportunity and capability shall walk hand in hand.”

May your special Narcotic Week reach and teach many people! The Christ, “Whose we are and Whom we serve,” can give the wisdom and tact for this work. Yours in the White Riblxin Service, LORETTA M. HOYMAN.