The worst evils of the narcotic drug situation are not, as is widely taught, rooted in the inherent depravity and moral weakness of those addicted. They find their origin in opportunity, created by ignorance, neglect and fear, for commercial and other exploitation of the physical suffering resulting from denial of narcotic drug to one addicted. The many widely advertised drug cures derive their prosperity from the desperate desire of the narcotic addict to be cured of the condition which may at any time cause him intense physical suffering. The worst evil of the narcotic situation in the past few years, and especially since the enforcement of restrictive legislation, without provision for complete investigation of the whole situation, for education, and adequate treatment of disease aspects, is the rapid growth and spread of criminal and underworld and illicit traffic in narcotic drugs. This exists to its present extent because conditions have been created which make smuggling and street peddling and criminal and illicit traffic tremendously profitable, and it would not exist to its present extent otherwise. It is simply and plainly the exploitation of human suffering by the supplying to desperate and diseased individuals, at any price which may be demanded, one of the necessities of their immediate existence. Such exploitation would become unprofitable on any large scale if the disease created by continued administration of opiates were recognized as it exists and its physical demands comprehended and provided for in more legitimate and less objectionable ways. One of the most important and immediately available of these ways is the honest practitioner of medicine. If the average practitioner of medicine were made familiar with the physical facts of addiction-disease, and its phenomena and reactions, and were encouraged by both legal and medical authoritative support to admit addiction-disease patients to his practice, to be cared for just as other patients to the best of his honest therapeutic ability and judgment--if he were taught to regard them as sick people whom he could help--if he were relieved of uncertainty as to the meaning and possible interpretation of laws and regulations, and as to the possible action or lack of action and attitude of his medical brethren and medical organizations towards him--the best available, honest, humane and intelligent machinery would be set in motion for the immediate care of the average honest sufferer from addiction-disease, and for the discouragement of underworld or underground exploitation. This has been demonstrated. It would react furthermore as a stimulus to the education of the physician, to familiarize himself with the scientific and medical facts of this disease.