The American Scourge
Schroeder peels off several layers of prejudice, panic, and politics from the drug abuse problem and comes up with a core of well documented material. In colonial times opiates were freely available, and in the Civil War era morphine, addiction, known then as "the soldiers' disease," presented problems. Later in the 19th century, opium smoking and hashish were in vogue, and at the end of it Coca Cola got its name because it contained cocaine.
Only 60 years ago the Harrison Drug Act put the transport and sale of narcotics under federal regulations. Drugs in one form or another may have been with us for a long time, but not to the extent nor with the social impact of our current epidemic dating back to the '6os.
From the medical point of view which concerns itself with disability and death, hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, and speed, are, perhaps surprisingly enough, relatively minor in numbers compared to our major health problems with such socially acceptable addictions as tranquilizers, tobacco, and alcohol - particularly alcohol. About a quarter of this book is devoted to an excellent presentation of all aspects of marijuana, probably the least addictive and least harmful of all. Already steps are being taken to "decriminalize" it.
Best versed with the legal and political aspects of drug abuse, Shroeder takes us through the few triumphs and the many failures of various control agencies and the "get-tough" policy of the Nixon administration, during which time we have ended up with as many addicts as ever and no visible dent in drug availability. To quote: "Perhaps it is time to concede that we are a nation of confirmed drugtakers and will remain so for the foreseeable future."
Schroeder volunteers no pat answer, but he does offer a little sunshine on possible approaches to solutions. This book will interest not only legislators, who in the past have borne the brunt of the burden, but also physicians, educators, parents, and concerned citizens, who in the future simply must exert far greater pressure in solving the übiquitous problems of drugs.
THE POLITICS OF DRUGS:MARIJUANA TO MAINLINING.By Richard C. Schroeder'53. Congressional Quarterly, 1975.216 pp. $5.95.
Dr. Wright is a former staff member of theHitchcock Clinic and the Dartmouth MedicalSchool.
