Article
Preventing and Treating Narcotic Addiction — A Century of Federal Drug Control
New England Journal of Medicine
(2015)
Abstract
Just over a century ago, in March 1915, the Harrison Narcotic Act took effect, requiring anyone who imported, produced, sold, or dispensed “narcotics” (at that time meaning coca- as well as opium-based drugs) to register, pay a nominal tax, and keep detailed records. With such records, officials could better enforce existing laws, such as those requiring sale by prescription only. They could also prosecute unregistered narcotics distributors such as saloonkeepers and street peddlers. The intent was to keep narcotic transactions within legitimate medical channels. For more than a decade, U.S. reformers and diplomats had been urging this course on other nations. In 1915, they belatedly put their own house in order.
Keywords
- addiction,
- history,
- medicine,
- The Harrison Act,
- 1970 Controlled Substances Act
Disciplines
Publication Date
November 26, 2015
DOI
10.1056/NEJMp1508818
Citation Information
David T. Courtwright. "Preventing and Treating Narcotic Addiction — A Century of Federal Drug Control" New England Journal of Medicine Vol. 373 Iss. 22 (2015) p. 2095 - 2097 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/david_courtwright/12/