The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-03
CHAIN GANG MAY Be
CURE TO DRUG F|E|VD
After Sixteen Days of Hard
Labor Frank Adamson
Shows Improvement.

\ new mari, FOR strenuous experience
has been set al the city Jail Sixteen
days ago Frank J.. .Adamson was ar
rested Tor vagrancy and sentenced 10
hard labor on the chain gang. Adamsor
was a morphine user, who, according to
his own story. attempted suicide In the
basement at police headquarters one
night last winter after being without the
drug for two days by siashing his wrist.
When be began work on the chain
gang. Adamson was IN pitia BILE con-
dition He could not escape the days OF
toll that had been mcted out 10 him by
the police court Judge. Worse s,nl, he
had little strength with which 20 per-
form the work demanded OF him. Then.
too, there was the craving For morphine.
Struggled doses OF IL might have been
had, bat meager allowances Of the drug
In desperation, AGamson turned To Or
II. p. SpraSue, assistant health COM
missioner. Or. SpraSue became con-
WINGED that Adamsou rot only wanted
To quit morphine. but that he he'd a
most excellent daily sumuaut for doing
so. Since Adamsou could not get away
from the swinging OF a pick. might he
not be glad 10 get away from his habit
Dr. Sprague thought so. he did all he
could for the man
After sixteen days OF hard work with
out morphine, Adamson declares ne feels
better than he has since he started
to use the drug twenty years ago. He
has gained twenty five pounds since he
was sentenced. Adamson said last
night
have attempted before TO uuit
the drug habit and have even gone
so far as TO be rid of the craving for
morphine. but il is the ghosts OF the
morphine that gets a fellow. They
are realistic ghosts. too. materiaiiz-
Ing out of all the physical ailments
and disorders that one may have
suffered from during his life time,
Once the pain-atlaying drug IS taken
from the user. and even after the
craving has left him, these ghosts
lay hold of him and hang on.
wracking, his body and soul Win
pain He iinds his diseased body
more loathsome than the habit OF
which he has been cured. He hates
l!fe. He thinks of suicide, and rn
less he becomes cured OF the dis
eases TO which ne was insenslb]e
while n drug user there are but two
avenues open for him-a return TO
the use OF the pain amelloratlns
dis;illation OF the coca or self
had gone through all this when
! Quit before, l did not want TO face
1t again. told Dr.. Sprague So He
said he could help me on that score
II 1 wanted to quit There was no
choice but 10 quit. for the time at
least. Under treatment for the dis
ease that made quitting a horror
began TO feel better. 1 got stronger.
Nv flesh became healthier My
muscles have been hardened by the
work. viii be able TO do a good
days work when | get out OF here.
and | have a job waiting for me,
If / We're TO give advice TO any per-
son under treatment FOR the cure
OF the drug habit / would say be-
ware OF its ghosts. Sec 10 IL that
you are being intciligently treated
FOR the ailments that the use of the
drug has concealed from you for the
many years. IL you do not, the pain
OF them VIII get you,
Adamson IS native Of Salt Lake. He
is 40 years OF age, and has relatives and
friends living here who Will be glad TO
help him toward completion of his
fight.