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The New York Times December 3, 1950
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HEROIN ADDICTS MOUNT
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U.S., Canada and Britain Report 'Graduation' From Marijuana
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LAKE SUCCESS, Dec. 2 (AP)-- The United States, Canada and Britain today
reported a sharp increase in dope addicts-- victims who have "graduated" from
marijuana to heroin.
Postwar prosperity, a desire for "kicks," international tension, and a greater
availability of heroin because of increased smuggling from Italy and Turkey were
responsible, the United Nations Commission on Narcotics was told.
In the United States one in every 3,000 of the general population-- or an estimated total
of 53,000 persons-- is a heroin addict, Harry J. Anslinger, Federal Narcotics
Commissioner, reported.
"Most of them are young hoodlums," he said. "All started by smoking
marijuana cigarettes."
Samuel Hoare of Britain said that 326 new drug addicts had been recorded in his country
during 1949, but that the great majority were past thirty years of age.
Col. C.H.L. Sherman of Canada told the commission that never before had the heroin traffic
been so prevalent, with street peddlers now selling as much as half a pound at a time
instead of merely a few grains.
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