Q,'r*X\ The Narcotic Drug Control Law You Support It? THE FACTS SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO HELP Issued by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America 105 East 22nd Street, New York City. PRINCIPAL FACTS 1. The State is now without a law to control the improper use of and traffic in habit forming drugs. 2. The Federal Harrison Law (enacted 1914) is enforced by the Federal courts and district attorneys. The courts and the police of the State must be authorized by the Legislature to join in the campaign against addiction. 3. A simple and comprehensive bill (Assembly No. 342) has been drafted by competent authorities and introduced, Jan. 16, 1924, by Mr. Weinfeld. 4. This bill is in accord with the Federal Harrison Act except that it includes some provisions beyond the power of Congress. 5. It is supported by the New York State Bar Association, at its Annual Meeting, January 19, 1924; by the Federal Council of Churches, February 9, 1924; and by the Social Service Commit- tee of the New York City Federation of Churches. MAIN FEATURES OF THE BILL 1. The bill makes possession of or dealing in the drugs speeified, except in accord with the law, a misdemeanor. 2. It specifies clearly how a person can legitimately possess or deal in these drugs and it follows the Harrison Act closely. 3. It adopts Federal order blanks for all purchases, and the only added requirement is the filing of duplicates with State author- ities. 4. It requires pharmacists to preserve prescriptions in the same form required by the Harrison Act. 5. It requires physicians who dispense or administer narcotics to keep records similar to those which the Federal authorities require and to file reports annually. 6. It provides for the commitment of addicts for treatment. 7. It requires the reporting of cases of treatment of addicts, thus securing statistics of extent and localization of addiction on which to base a future comprehensive solution of the problem of the care of these unfortunates. 8. The enforcement of the Act is placed in the hands of police author- ities and courts throughout the State. 9. Peddling and other illegal traffic are treated as crimes to be de- tected and punished like other violations of the law. OPPOSITION Opposition to the proposed law comes only from those engaged in the manufacture of and traffic in narcotic drugs, who desire untram- meled opportunity for enormous profits. There are many intricate ramifications of the drug trade. Those interested resort to “insidious obstructive propaganda so disguised as to elude the ignorant or thoughtless.” They have recently broad- casted the statement that “it should be the policy of our State to leave narcotic drug control to Federal law and enforcement.” Such a proposal, however, is manifestly utterly impracticable, for the Federal authorities have no control of the State police and State courts, which alone reach down into every community, nor can the Federal government care for the individual addicts. THE DRUG EVIL Heroin, of all the narcotic drugs, is the supreme danger. It “cuts off the sense of responsibility ; heroin addicts will more quickly commit crimes, and with no sense of regret or responsibility. It makes much quicker the muscular reaction and therefore is used by criminals to make them more daring and their muscular reflexes quicker.” — Dr. AI.EXANDER Lambert. “The heroin habit has grown to extremely large proportions in a way that is absolutely appalling, harmful not only to the well-being of those addicted, but to the well-being of the State.” — Judge C. F. Collins. In the New York City drug clinics (April, 1919-January, 1920), out of 7,464 addicts treated, 69% were under 30 years of age and 39% under 24. Over 90% of drug users in New York City are addicted to heroin. “Heroin is the most powerful of habit-forming drugs, the most detrimental in its effects on the users and the most difficult drug-habit to combat.” USE OF HEROIN FORBIDDEN IN THE U. S. ARMY “Stocks of heroin on hand at posts, camps, stations or medical supply depots will be destroyed and dropped from the stock record account on certificate of the medical supply officer. Heroin is no longer issued for use of the Medical Department of the Army.” By order of the Surgeon General, M. W. Ireland. WHAT TO DO I. WHAT PASTORS CAN DO (1) Introduce the subject in a sermon in the near future. (2) Have this leaflet for distribution to all members of the congregation. (3) Draft a resolution in favor of the Weinfeld BiU and secure signatures from many members of the Church. (4) Send the resolution to representatives in the Senate and Assembly. (5) Persuade many dhurch members to write personal letters to representatives in the Senate and Assembly. (6) Get the facts into the local press by a suitable article and by personal letters to the editor from men of local influence. II. WHAT LAYMEN CAN DO (1) Help distribute this leaflet. (2) Talk to your pastor and urge him to follow the suggestions made above. (3) Write to your representatives in the State Legislature. (4) Persuade your friends and acquaintances to write letters as suggested above. III. WHAT CITY CHURCH FEDERATIONS AND MIN- ISTERS’ ASSOCIATIONS CAN DO Provide Mass Meetings for popular information and inspira- tion, for signing petitions and for urging the writing of personal letters to representatives in the Senate and Assembly. Where To Secure Information The BiU and additional information may be secured from Hon. M. Weinfeld, Albany, N. Y. The Report on the situation made by the Committee of the Amer- ican Bar Association may be secured from Mr. Stephen P. Anderton, 52 William Street, New York City. Important Memoranda on the Narcotic Drug situation may be secured from the Foreign Policy Association, 9 East 45th Street, New York City, or from J. P. Chamberlain, Secretary of the Narcotic Drug Control League, 105 East 22nd Street, New York City. Copies of this leaflet may be secured for distribution ($2.00 per hundr^, postpaid) from the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, 105 East 22nd Street, New York City.