The Committee on Drug Addictions is a group consisting of the following individuals: Katharine Bement Davis, Ph.D., General Sec-retary, Bureau of Social Hygiene, Chairman; Stanley Cobb, M.D., Professor of Neuropathology, Harvard University Medical School; Lafayette B. Mendel, Ph.D., Sc.D., Professor of Physiological Chemis-try, Yale University; A. N. Richards, Ph.D. Se.D., Professor of Phar-macology, University of Pennsylvania; Willard S. Richardson, Secre-tary, Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial; William F. Snow, M.D., General Director, American Social Hygiene Association; George B. Wallace, M.D., Professor of Pharmacology, New York University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College.

The studies pursued by the Committee have been carried on by Charles E. Terry, M.D., Executive, and Mildred Pellens, Associate Executive.

The Committee was organized in 1921 as a result of several confer-ences 6f it,s members and a few other individuals who came together to discuss what commonly is termed the narcotic drug problem. These conferences in themselves were fairly typical of the differences in existing opinions and attitudes, inasmuch as there developed among the members a number of apparently contradictory conceptions of the problem in general, its causes, its nature, and the procedures best suited to its ultimate solution. It seemed apparent also that in spite of all efforts at solution there existed a major problem and much confusion in the minds of those officially, professionally or otherwise dealing with it. The existence of the many contradictory theories as to needed remedial procedures appeared to be due to pronounced disagreement as to the actual nature of the problem. The Committee was formed, therefore, with a clear appreciation of the existence of a complex problem arising out of the chronic use of opium.

It was decided that the first object to be sought in an intelligent approach was a determination of whether in opium addiction there existed a problem important enough to warrant the institution of constructive efforts directed at solution. Certain questions suggested themselves, which, could they be answered, would assist materially in carrying out the program of the Committee. These questions were concerned with two main lines requiring investigation, i.e., chronic opium ' intoxication as a social problem and as an individual problem. It readily can be seen that satisfactory answers to the following ques-tions would enable the Committee to accomplish its purpose:

1. a. What is the extent of the chronic use of opium and its derivatives? b. What causative factors were involved?
2. What is the etiology of chronic opium intoxication?
3. What is the nature of chronic opium intoxication?
4. How should this condition be treated?
5. How may the problem of chronic opium intoxication be solved?

As a first step it was decided that a review of the literature dealing with the subject was the most practical procedure and that, while other promising sources of information should be investigated, the written work of those who had studied the condition in any of its phases probably would offer the most valuable material.

The study outlined was completed and a detailed report of the mate-rial reviewed was submitted to the Committee, who at several meetings considered its significance as an indication of the present status of the opium problem. As a result a program for further work has been pre-pared and the preliminary steps for its execution have been taken, as the Committee has concluded that the problem involved is deserving of its best efforts at solution along several lines.

As one activity the presentation to the public in some useful form of the material covered in its study has seemed desirable.

In the preparation of the present volume, the material originally submitted to the Committee on Drug Addictions in the report of the executives has been condensed considerably. It is felt that the chief value of this publication will be to stimulate a wider general and scientific interest in the problem, to acquaint those potentially or actually interested with some idea of the different phases of the problem and of various theories which so far have been elaborated, to sug-gest through its review of existing records other and broader fields for study and research, and to supply those who may wish to undertake intensive studies with a useful bibliography.

1By common consent of the Committee, it was decided to confine the study to the chronic use of opium and its derivatives, in the belief that the habitual use of cocain and other so-called addiction-forming drugs offered a problem differing materially in certain phases from that comprised in chronic opium intoxication.