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DRUG ADDICTION.
This is a subject to which only recently the general public has
given much consideration and even now probably with a mixture of
disgust, horror or pity whenever they read about it in the newspapers.
Fortunately, addiction to the Narcotic group of drugs, namely the Opiates
which include Morphine, Heroin and their synthetic derivatives,
Pethidine and Methadone, are rare in this country, a fact which was
again confirmed by the recent report on Drug Addiction, published in
1961 which concluded that the prevalence of addiction was still very
small and that there is no evidence that any definite increase is taking
place. This state of affairs is of course, completely contrary to
that which is found in the U.S.A. where the problem of illegal imports,
large scale trafficking down to the small pedlar on the street corner is
commonplace. This difference in the size of the problem is due mainly
to the fact that in this country the addict is felt to be in need of
medical help and can indeed obtain his drugs under the National Health
Service, with suitable safeguards, thus doing away with the need of
pedlars, whereas in the U.S.A. he is classed immediately as a criminal
and sent to jail.
However, it is not this group of drugs with which I am concerned
but with the Amphetamines and their derivatives. These drugs are
primarily stimulants, the best known being Benzedrine, which was used
in the last war to overcome sleeplessness at moments of crisis, and
Dexedrine (dexamphetamine sulphate) in cases of obesity, both of which
may be combined with a Barbiturate. Illegally they are sold as
"Purple Hearts" (Dexedrine and a barbiturate) and "Sweeties"
(Phenmetrazine - an amphetamine substitute) at about ninepence per
tablet.
There appears to be no doubt at all that there has been a
very definite increase in the number of people taking these drugs
for both medical and non-medical reasons; they account for over
2.5 per cent of all National Health Service prescriptions and the
amount sold illegally is now reaching alarming proportions.
Although people of all ages and classes are taking them, unfortunately
the most frequent users are late teenagers, students, young people
living alone, and various types such as the beatniks and others. The
majority probably never wish to begin taking them but under social
pressure from their friends at coffee bars, cafes and parties etc. they
do so in order that they may appear grown up and then find that they
cannot do without them and so commences the downward path to physical,
mental and social degradation. While precise figures as to the
extent of habituation or addiction are obviously impossible to obtain
and local statistics as to crime directly or indirectly related to
these drugs are not available, nevertheless the local press have recently
printed articles and statements made by Youth Club Leaders showing that
the problem does exist. The drugs may lead to a progressive deterioration
in character even to a frank psychosis necessitating treatment in a mental
home, whereas should they be withdrawn there is a feeling of listlessness,
depression and craving. It is this latter feeling, due to a now