Narcotics Reform Pushed

June 9, 1965 - Fifteen members of Congress introduced bills today that would allow the Federal government to treat narcotics addiction as a disease instead of a crime.

Congressman John Lindsay (R-NY) was one of eight House sponsors. Senators Robert Kennedy (D-NY) and Jacob Javits (R-NY) joined with five other senators to introduce similar bills in the upper chamber.

The bills would provide for treatment instead of prison and also set up a three-year $75 million Federal program of grants to the states to help in treatment and services.

The bills would retain strict criminal penalties against major peddlers of narcotics, making a distinction between the “pusher” and the “victimized” addict.

Javits declared on the Senate floor that present Federal narcotics laws and an exclusively punitive enforcement approach had proved “wholly inadequate” to meet the national problem of narcotics addiction.

Kennedy said at a news conference that there were 50,000 to 100,000 narcotics addicts in the country who were a serious burden to their families and who often endangered innocent bystanders.

Lindsay called the proposed legislation “vitally important to New York City and to the nation.” He indicated at the same time that he intended to make narcotics control in New York a campaign issue against Mayor Robert Wagner, saying: “I shall address myself to aspects of narcotics addiction in New York during the coming months.”

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