p. 5 | Drugging and Drinking by W.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 30, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 29.

Drugging and Drinking

By W.

THERE are millions killing themselves both ways. Business men recognize it, and the person himself or herself ought to appreciate the clear facts from purely selfish motives. A life assurance society devotes almost an entire circular to the drugging habit. We are told that 'the man who doses himself with patent nostrums' 'puts his hand into a sort of medical grab-bag, and if he draws only a harmless or useless nostrum he is lucky. Quite frequently he draws a narcotic poison.'

We are told that in many of these nostrums are alcohol, opium, cocain, acetanilid, phenacetin, caffein, chloral, etc., many of which are very dangerous, and they warn their members to use none of these, or even alcohol, without consulting a physician. Generally, the law prohibits the sale of the above except upon a physician's prescription, and also forbids the refilling of such prescriptions. We further read:

'Since alcohol is now known to be a narcotic drug, is there any real difference between the 'drug fiend' and the daily user of alcohol? Chemically speaking, there is little difference, except that alcohol is a direct tissue poison, while most other narcotics are not, but exert their evil effects by disturbing the functions of the body. Generally speaking, however, the drug addict is on a much lower moral and physical plane than the average so-called 'moderate daily drinker.''

'The drug addict is a thoroly poisoned individual. His system must be cleared, not only of drugs, but of the body poisons he has accumulated. With a system cleared of poison, and the bodily functions fully restored, the drug addict may be assured that there is no drug in the pharmacopoeia that has any mysterious power to enslave him, if he wishes to retain his freedom.'

A Christian, above all others, should not be addicted to drugs; and remember, alcohol is one of the narcotic drugs. W.