The wide extent of the drug habit in this country has not been apparent. The man suffering from a physical disease either shows it or makes it known; the man suffering from the drug habit presents unfamiliar and unidentified symptoms, and far from being willing to make his affliction known, through shame he tries to conceal it at all hazards. Until legislation forced the victims of drug habits by hundreds into Bellevue Hospital in New York, this great institution rarely had one as a patient. The sufferer from tuberculosis would seek this hospital, feeling that there he might find measurable relief; the drug-user shunned it, for he was doubtful of receiving aid, and above all things he dreaded deprivation without relief. No man or woman will go to any institution for relief from the drug habit where the only treatment offered is that of enforced deprivation, for he or she knows perfectly well that deprivation means death. No human longing can compare in intensity with that of the drug-user for his drug. Unrelieved, he will let nothing stand between him and it; neither hunger, nakedness, starvation, arson, theft, nor murder will keep him from the substance that he craves. Clearly humanity must be protected against such an evil. And the physician must be saved from it, for saving him will fulfil in a large measure the demand for the protection of the public. After the experience of the medical profession of New York State with the workings of the Boylan Act, it is scarcely probable that strong opposition to similar legislation will be made in other States. Even if other States delay in the enactment of right legislation, the Boylan Act may be considered not only a protective measure for the profession and the people of New York State, but it may be safely accepted as an educational pronouncement for the benefit of the medical profession everywhere. It establishes for the first time the danger-line. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE PERIL OF THE DRUG HABIT 3 II THE NEED OF ADEQUATE SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR THE DRUG-TAKER 27 III THE DRUG-TAKER AND THE PHYSICIAN 46 IV PSYCHOLOGY AND DRUGS 61 V ALCOHOLICS 76 VI HELP FOR THE HARD DRINKER 87 VII CLASSIFICATION OF ALCOHOLICS 113 VIII THE INJURIOUSNESS OF TOBACCO 140 IX TOBACCO AND THE FUTURE OF THE RACE 162 X THE SANATORIUM 174 XI PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR THE DRUG EVIL 194 XII CLASSIFICATION OF HABIT-FORMING DRUGS 215 XIII PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTION 227