THE OPIUM DANGER
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In a letter published in your issue of May 7th, the Rev. C. F. Andrews pleads for " a gradual suppres- sion of the vile habit in all British territory in the Far East."
Would that his plea might be effectual ! Ostensibly the " gradual suppression " is taking place, but actually opium comsumption appears to be on the increase in one at least of these territories, judging by the experience of living in Burma during the last thirteen years.
- As long as licensed opium is sold by Government shops, the moral_ effect can only be to encourage illicit consumption as well. At present there is nothing to prevent anyone regis- tering himself as an addict and obtaining opium from a Govern- ment shop. The splendid effort to wipe out this curse in China is being felt in Burma, where supplies of smuggled opium from over the border are now increasingly difficult to obtain.
If only some of the revenue received from the sale of opium were spent in compulsory medical treatment for addicts, and the Government shops were abolished, it would be possible in a few years to get rid of the opium habit in Burma.
Unfortunately official opinion too often inclines to the ignorant idea that eastern peoples are better off physically if supplied with opium, and then there is the question of considerable loss of revenue, which so often prevents right from superseding expediency.—Yours faithfully,
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