NEW YORK BANS AMPHETAMINES AS A DIETING AID - New York TimesNEW YORK BANS AMPHETAMINES AS A DIETING AID
Governor Carey signed a bill today that would make it illegal for a physician to prescribe amphetamines for the sole purpose of helping a patient lose weight.
The bill prohibits the use of such drugs for the ''exclusive treatment'' of ''obsesity, weight loss or weight control.'' A doctor who so prescribed an amphetamine would not be subject to prosecution, but Mr. Carey said the legislation would permit the state's Health Department to bring disciplinary procedings against physicians ''who persist in prescribing amphetamines for weight control.''
Carey Explains His Support
In a memorandum explaining his support of the measure, the Governor cited ''Federal studies,'' which he said showed that ''about 25 percent of the reported cases of amphetamine abuse were related to drugs obtained through legitimate prescriptions.''
The Medical Society of the State of New York, which normally resists restrictions on physicians' freedom to prescribe as they see fit, did not oppose the bill. It is consistent with the society's formal opposition to the use of amphetamines for weight control.
A spokesman for the Society said that the principal recognized uses of amphetamines were to treat minimal brain damage and narcolepsy, which involves uncontrollable attacks of deep sleep. He said the drugs were also used in connection with narcotics for the ''control of intractable pain.'' Bad Side Effects Cited
Dr. George Lawrence, the director of the Medical Society's division of scientific activities, said that amphetamines ''are effective in controling the appetite'' but had ''very harmful side effects.'' He said he expected the bill would cut down the prescription of amphetamines for dieters, since doctors could face the loss of their licenses to practice as the result of a disciplinary proceding.
Harriet Morse, the director of the State Senate's Health Committee, said the bill was directed primarily at what she called ''fat' doctors'' who ''specialize in weight reduction and within their specialty overuse amphetamines.''
Amphetamines are habit-forming drugs, which, if abused, can result in mental illness and cardiovascular difficulties. Wisconsin Impact Noted
The Wisconsin Controlled Substances Board reported in 1978 that sales of amphetamines had dropped by 97 percent in that state within three months after the board banned their use for weight control. Dr. Darold Treffert, chairman of the board, said today that since then ''the doses dispensed have dropped even further.''
Dr. Treffert said critics of the ban -which, like the New York law, does not carry criminal sanctions - had predicted when it went into effect that there would be an increase in ''street traffic'' of amphetamines, but Dr. Treffert said that ''interestingly, amphetamine arrests have dropped substantially.''