Salt Lake Telegram | 1919-09-08 | Page 2 | Drug Addicts Increase in Dry States, is Charge

D DRUG ADm ADDICTS T TIN IN INCREASE RA IN I DRY STATES T A T I II I Is CHARGE HAR State Health Commissioner Says Use of Narcotics Has Jumped Rapidly Since Prohibition Came P PROHIBITION has appreciably 1 increased the number of drug addicts not only in Utah but ut in other other- states as well and this is especially noticeable in instates instates instates states that went dry before the advent of cf national prohibition reports coming into the office of Dr G G. B. B Beatty state stat commissioner seem t to in in- in The former heavy heay drinker deprived de de' deprived of ot his alcoholic stimulant now turns to opiates or other narcotics narcotics' for tor solace reports show An appreciable increase in l the number number number num num- ber of narcotic addicts is indicated in Utah by bv the r reports p since the tho state went dr dry The reason for this is given as the difficulty encountered In violating violat- violat ing the state prohibition law It Is easier and more profitable for the drug peddler to violate the Harrison anti antu narcotic law than for Ute the b bootlegger to violate the state dry law The narcotics narcotics narcotics nar nar- come corne In small packages and are aree e easier sier to conceal than the more bulky packages of wet goods I firmly believe belie in prohibition but butr r reports ports coming into my office seem to o Indicate an appreciable increase in the number of ot narcotic users in Ir Utah since the passage of the state prohibition I law Dr DI Beatty asserted dJ The re reI reports reports re- re ports por in other states lead Ie-ad to this same I conclusion Stricter enforcement of the Harrison Harrlson law in Utah is uge gel u uge b by Dr Beatty The narcotic habit is far more injurious than the liquor habit he declares The narcotic habit can b be cured with proper proper treatment and lr o the government and the state prohibits the use of drugs to these addicts the they should take steps to ti cure Lure them and afI afford af af- af- af I ford them relief from tie te terrible suffering sufI suf suf- I I fering eau caused ed to the narcotic n user h by bythe t the deprivation of his sup supply pi of ot drugs