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55
essence of the aims of the Health and Welfare Department but also
the 'raison d'etre' for the presentation in this Report of data calculated
to achieve these ends.
As already outlined in my previous Report, many diseases and
malformations are genetically determined and, short of artificial
selection, these are, as yet, beyond our control. Efforts for the
moment, therefore, are limited to those directed towards influencing
those environments which are disease precipitating. Such factors
will include maternal and child care, housing, education, factory
processes and working conditions, atmospheric pollution, food and
food premises, diet, etc.
Unfortunately, because not all diseases, infectious or otherwise,
are notifiable to the Medical Officer of Health, local morbidity in
certain instances may be difficult to assess and, of necessity, reference
must be made to national trends. In other instances where aetiological
uncertainty persists, some attempt has been made to give
current authoritative views and hypotheses.
Rising anxiety about drug addiction, coupled with its topicality,
persuades me that the interests of the public would best be served
by an exposition of the problem. Because, in general, local authorities
are moving towards the establishment of all-embracing health
and welfare services on which the results of drug addiction are
certain to impinge, opportunity has been taken to summarise the
present situation.
Drug Addiction and Alcoholism
Most problems in this connection arise as the result of the
misuse or abuse of substances which, when employed sensibly, are
generally of benefit to the public at large.
As stated in my previous Report, neither drug addiction nor
alcoholism appears to be of real moment in this Borough at present
but, unquestionably, the problem of drug addiction is becoming
increasingly more serious nationally and, as a health authority, we
must be on our guard.
Drug Addiction
There is no doubt but that the misuse of drugs is a sickness and
should be treated as such. It is important, therefore, that the underlying
causes, social, psychological or environmental should be
discovered and remedied or rectified.
From 1959 to 1966, drug addicts known to the Home Office
increased from 454 to 1,349, the latter figure included 899 heroin
addicts of whom almost 400 also used cocaine. The numbers,
although relatively small in comparison with total population, have
doubled since 1947 but what is most disturbing is that they are now