In presenting our full message to the world we cannot rightly omit the health phases in our program of evangelism. We must be leaders in the temperance movement in every land. Bu e must have a positive program, and approach problem from a sound, scientific viewpoint.
We must be positive not negative. For instance, in presenting the subject of narcotics, it is essential that an accepted definition be found that will help us to understand the field to be explored. Two such definitions are:
"A narcotic is a substance that acts as a depressant upon the nervous system and other organs of the body."
"A narcotic is an agent that temporarily inhibits or suppresses the activities of living matter."
According to these definitions there are a number of substances that should be listed among narcotics. A few of these are opium and its derivatives, such as heroin, morphine, codeine, cocaine, marijuana, nicotine, and alcohol. All these drugs are depressants and are therefore narcotics.
Some may ask, "What is meant by a depressant ?" It is any substance which slows down the movements of the body by affecting the nervous system or other organs, and causes the loss of ability to function in a normal manner. It produces a stupor, induces sleep, and usually brings the subject to a state of lethargy. In the field of medicine certain drugs are used to relieve pain. The second step is to produce sleep. However, an overdose can kill the subject.
From these elemental facts it is obvious that narcotics are the opposite of stimulants. Narcotics are the sleep-producing drugs and bring on a loss of sensitivity.
In a study of narcotics it is important that one understand that these drugs contain alkaloids, and alkaloids are poison—powerful poison. Theskaloids are produced in plants and also in an life. There are more than eight hundred known alkaloids. Twenty-four of these are used in medicine. A few important ones are quinine, alcohol, strychnine, opium. There are many others. Most alkaloids are vegetable in origin. They come from the poppy, from various leaves, the bark of trees, and from roots of plants. Alcohol and tobacco, as well as opium and marijuana, contain these poisonous alkaloids.
There are also animal alkaloids formed in rotting flesh. These are known as ptomaine. It is well known that ptomaine poisoning is often fatal. It is evident from this that alkaloids, whether vegetable or animal in origin, are dangerous enemies to the human body.
In view of the danger in the use of these drugs, which militate against a normal functioning of the body organs and the nervous system, and definitely slow up the movements of the body, the question arises as to why people use narcotics. Many people use narcotics because they say they get a "lift." Others use the drugs as an escape mechanism. They wish to escape from fear or the cares and problems of life. Some want to escape from responsibility, and some want to forget. Others use certain drugs as a matter of social custom.
Another question which presents itself in the study of the problem is this: What is the physical is for narcotic addiction? In some cases there is to be a physical basis. The chemistry of the body may reveal a nutritional deficiency. It may be a lack of vitamins, or it may be that the constant use of spices and rich condiments has conditioned the stomach for the use of, and desire for, stronger substances. Some stimulants, such as tea and coffee, may be milder in form than others ; yet their constant use is preparing the stomach and the body for other substances which are stronger.
This same principle seems to be evident in the use of narcotics themselves. Any narcotic acts as an antigen (a toxin), which tends to produce anti-' bodies (to oppose the action of other substances). When a certain amount of narcotic is taken into the system, the body of man begins to build up these antibodies as a defense measure. By the next time that same amount of narcotic is taken into the body, nature has built up these antibodies to counterbalance the invasion of this narcotic drug. In order to get the former "kick" from the use of the narcotic, the addict must use a larger amount of the drug. Then the system builds an equal amount of antibodies. And thus the vicious circle begins. The addict takes more and more of the narcotic, and the body builds more and more of the antibodies. However, these antibodies are a dynamic force and eventually turn on the nervous system of the addict. This brings on the fatal results of narcotic. addiction.
This aspect of the physiological results of narcotic addiction should be sufficient reason why any human being should never use these narcotic drugs. They are definitely invaders, and the body system recognizes them as such. The human organs and blood set up defense measures to resist the in-ion. As more narcotics are taken into the body, reinforcements are sent in to aid in the defense of the body. However, the poison is potent, and eventually the defense measures are broken down before the repeated assaults of an enemy. And the stark tragedy of the whole business is this strange enigma—the enemy's invasion is brought about by the very person whose body itself tries in vain to protect the addict, who seems bent on self-destruction. How can a sane, civilized man defend his use of a poison which has such a physiological effect upon his whole system, and which has left such a record of havoc in its wake?
It is obvious that many of these facts and factors are not understood by many people, who nevertheless call themselves both ane and civilized. But they are uninformed, to say the least. Otherwise, how can a sane man wish to destroy his own life? Narcotics definitely suppress living tissue. They undermine the health and happiness of the addict —often not immediately, but so insidiously that the sufferer in his illness looks to another cause than the real one.
How can a man be happy who is not healthy? Health is essential to the full enjoyment of life. A full contribution to the welfare of the race is possible only through vigorous co-operation of the individual members of the race. Any man or woman who weakens his body through the use of poisons not only fails to take his place in the mosaic of life's pattern of service, but on the other hand falls as a dead weight upon the body politic. Instead of filling his niche, he becomes a burden to another. Thus the narcotic addict becomes a social problem, as well as a medical problem.
