Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
November,  1902.  J 
Acquirement  of  the  Drug  Habit. 
553 
cocaine  are  much  more  brutalizing  than  is  alcohol,  with  the  addi- 
tional horror  of  steady  and  certain  progress  and  almost  absolute 
absence  of  reform. 
With  the  exception  of  proprietary  and  patent  preparations  con- 
taining these  drugs,  and  the  opium  for  smoking,  these  drugs  are 
entirely  in  the  control  of  the  drug  trade  as  represented  by  jobber, 
manufacturer  and  dispenser.  The  responsibility  thus  resting  is 
frankly  acknowledged  by  many  honorable  and  manly  pharmacists, 
greatly  to  their  credit.  Many  of  our  correspondents — in  fact,  the 
large  majority — were  jealous  of  their  reputations  in  this  regard,  and 
boldly  declared  that  they  were  not  and  could  not  be  made  parties 
to  this  degradation.  Pharmacy  is  proud  of  these,  and  pharmacy 
honors  them.  How  far  the  responsibility  of  jobber  and  manufac- 
turer extends  is  not  yet  settled,  but  when  they  know,  as  they  must 
know,  that  they,  too,  are  pandering  to  this  most  unfortunate,  this 
man-destroying  appetite,  they  must,  indeed,  have  seared  con- 
sciences to  continue  to  supply  this  unwarranted  demand  without 
protest.  Yet  the  greater  responsibility,  the  responsibility  for  their 
sale,  rests  largely  with  registered  pharmacists,  who  not  only  have 
control,  but  discretionary  control.  This  discretion  applies  even  to 
orders  from  physicians  and  their  prescriptions.  In  no  possible 
manner  can  a  pharmacist  be  compelled  to  sell  these  drugs  if  he 
deems,  with  good  reason,  their  use  to  be  injurious  to  the  party  pur- 
chasing. The  responsibility,  then,  becomes  a  sacred  obligation,  and 
the  excuse  so  often  made,  "  If  I  don't  sell  him,  some  one  else  will," 
is  as  cowardly  as  it  is  specious.  The  responsibility  is  upon  us,  and 
we  must  meet  it  or  go  down.  If  asked  what  can  be  done  ?  we  may 
answer,  Our  level  best ;  that's  all. 
First,  this  section  and  this  Association  should  direct  their  best 
efforts  towards  the  absolute  suppression  of  the  incoming  of  opium  for 
smoking.  If  the  Chinaman  cannot  get  along  without  his  "  dope," 
we  can  get  along  without  him.  The  great  increase  in  the  quantity 
of  this  special  kind  of  opium  proves  one  of  two  things,  or  both  : 
Either  our  exclusion  laws  are  being  violated,  or  the  smoking  of 
opium  is  largely  practised  by  others  than  Chinese. 
Next,  this  section  and  this  Association  should  assist  in  securing 
State  legislation  upon  the  subject.  Through  the  various  State 
Associations  and  with  the  aid  of  medical  bodies  every  State  legisla- 
ture should  be  induced  to  pass  a  uniform  law  carefully  prepared  by 
this  Association. 
