The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-03-16
What of the Dope Fiend?


fering of those addicted to the use OF habit
forming drugs who are now victims OF the
desire and the want of the stimdlant be-
cause of the new federal law which depriVes
them of. that which they have been, using.
It is pitifu1 condition.
Congress did not stop to reason what is
TO become of such people, but rather con-
gross sought to stop the influence of such
drugs in the future: congress did not take
the census of those in this country who are
TODAY slaves to the habit, but rather con-
gress had in mind the thousands who are
not vet under the narcotic influence, but
might be, and the posterity that will come
into the world before whom the temptation
will never come ifSthe law is strictly fol-
lowed. newspaper printed in one OF the
larger cities of the country in noting the
effects of the law says:
And the denizens of the tenderloin,
the ignorant and the vicious, are not
the only ones who are in the grip Of
the drug fiend. They are not the only
ones upon whose back this old man Of
the sea is relentlessly and unshakab4y
perched In some of the best homes OF
the land: and among some of the gent
lest and most refined citizens of the ma
ton this insidiOus evil has crept.
But now almost without warning !
and at one stroke, the United States
purposes to drive this monster from the
shores of America. This will cause suf-
fering which the average man could
little comprehend. It will cause woe
indescribable.
Something must be done for the unfortu-
mates who come under the restrictions of
the law; there are some of them in Daw-
SON. there are some in nearly all communl-
ties. Those who are in the "best homes Of
the land" will work out their own remedies;
they have the money for consultation with
the best physicians, but those outside these
homes the beggars on the streets, need the
help of umanitarians-wards of charity
hospitals open to them, and the professional
services of medical men who are designated
by cities and counties to look after the halt
the lame and the sick who are charges upon
the public purse. There will be suffering
the enforcement of this law, and
it will extend throughout the country. AL
ready newspapers of all the cities are taking
note of cases that have come to light, and
the law has been effective only few days.
Read these news items, which are but sam
pies of many others:
Chicago.-Hospitals and private in
situations where treatment is given to
drug victims rapidly are being filled to
full capacity, it was learned today, as
result of the law which cut off the drug
supply to habitual users. DR.. Hald0r
Carlson. head of the Salvation Army
medical bureau, said he was making
preparations to care for thousands OF
poor patients next week, most of whom,
DR.. Carlson said, were women. The
club room established in the city hall
by the police for the use of men addict
ed to the drug habit has been pronounc-
ed a success. More than rs men are
being treated there.
Kansas City.-Hospitals and SANTA
RUINS here in which victims of op1ates
can be treated are filled. 1t was esti-
mated today there are 400 drug victims
in Kansas City who have been deprived
of their opiates by the new federal law.