View report page

58
As far as this Borough is concerned, the Metropolitan Water
Board is persisting in its policy of not introducing fluoridation until
there is unanimity among the local health authorities. In the meantime,
a great deal of preventable dental caries will continue to afflict
the young, the conservative treatment of which will prove to be
extremely expensive in money, manpower and personal inconvenience.
Drug Addiction
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.
By 31st March, 1968, the number of drug addicts reported to the
Central Authority under the procedure of the Dangerous Drugs
Act, 1967, was 1,608 but the number known by the Home Secretary
to be dependent upon narcotics was 1,729, an increase of more
than 28% over the previous year. These numbers, although
relatively small in comparison with total population, have almost
trebled since 1947 but what is most disturbing is that they are now
rising steeply. Those on "hard" drugs are located mainly in the
London area although within the past two or three years there has
been a noticeable movement of some of these to large provincial
cities.
Official statistics obviously do not reflect the true position for
they cannot cover the illicit use of drugs which appears to be on the
increase especially among the young people. According to Lord
Brain's Interdepartmental Committee Report, this rapid increase in
illicit addiction in the young was largely due to over-prescribing by
some doctors resulting in the excess supply finding its way to a
black market.
Previously, addiction was to be found almost exclusively among
the middle and older age groups, the majority of whom became
dependent as a result of drug therapy, but recent additions to the
"addicted" list, however, were mainly those in their teens and early
twenties.
Under the Dangerous Drugs (Notification of Addicts) Regulations,
1968, operative from 22nd February, medical practitioners
are charged with the duty of forwarding to the Chief Medical
Officer at the Home Office, certain particulars relating to persons
on whom they attend and consider to be addicted. There is no
statutory obligation on the part of a doctor to notify nor to take
any action in connection with a known or suspected case of drug
addiction which has been reported to him by someone else. So far,
there are no arrangements for the Medical Officer of Health to be
notified of cases living within his area of control.