9 People Who Abused Drugs In Nazi Germany

During Nazi rule, though drug abuse was very taboo, the law was not consistently enforced. Some addicts were put in concentration camps, whilst others got away with just a fine. Drug policy was heavily influenced by the Nazi's racist ideology, which helps explain why some addicts got away with much lighter punishment than others.

Dr. W. Horn was first identified as an opiate addict in 1942. He was convicted for falsifying prescriptions and was fined 500 Reichsmarks, and had to have treatment in a sanitarium. In 1944, Horn admitted to falsifying prescriptions again, which was a breach of the opium law. He was fined 6000 Reichsmarks, (which was a huge amount) and had to pay for the trial. Yet on this occasion, he was not sent to a hospital or given prison time.

Despite breaking the law, he kept his medical license and continued to treat patients even after the war ended. This reflects the strange attitude the Nazis had towards drugs. The Nazis were hesitant to be too harsh on doctors with addiction issues, as their support of the party was vital.