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59
Narcotic addiction is not, nor has it ever been, an offence.
Moreover, medical practitioners are permitted to supply or prescribe
such narcotic drugs as they consider necessary for the treatment of
patients. Legislation, however, makes the illicit possession of opium
derivatives and scheduled drugs such as amphetamine or barbiturate
criminal offences but penalties exacted as a result of its application
cover a wide range and are related to the nature of the offence.
Unfortunately, because not enough is known by magistrates and
jurists about dangerous drugs, the variation in penalties is wider
than seems logical and the law is brought into disrepute. Courts
need reliable guidance and this is not possible until research has
indicated what legal status drugs are to have and until doctors,
hospitals, chemists, health authorities and police are given an
opportunity to implement the findings in a firm but compassionate
manner.
For some, the prospect of drug taking is like a new fashion—
fascinating, exciting and usually a nine-day wonder but for others,
probably the majority of those with inadequate personalities who
eventually become addicts, it appears to offer an escape from reality
and a solution to their inability to cope with the ordinary vicissitudes
of life in a world too complex for them to master even the simplest of
their personal problems. What is not apparent to them is the fact
that habitual drug taking cannot transform their environment but
that it can certainly have serious effects upon their health and
personality, all for the worse.
It is the duty of every Medical Officer of Health to make
himself fully acquainted with the state of public health in the district
for which he is responsible. Drug addiction and its recent increase is
one such aspect. Unfortunately, little information is available and,
consequently, the collation of reliable epidemiological data is
difficult. It has been very aptly said that 'the best treatment for drug
addiction is never to let it happen' but, in present circumstances,
actions by health departments are limited mainly to the educational
field in offering guidance to the potential drug taker and actively
discouraging the taking of tablets for every trivial complaint. In
this way, risks of progression to serious addiction can be avoided.
For local authorities to take practical action in the future, there
needs to be a method whereby addicts are notified to the Medical
Officer of Health who could then assess the gravity of the problem
in his own area and perhaps bring his health and welfare community
care team to bear on the problem.
Maybe following an announcement of the Ministry's support of
a research centre at the Maudsley Hospital, its agreement to the
establishment of in-patient and out-patient treatment and the
development of special centres for drug addiction will enable a much
more positive line to be taken.