The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-05
Physicians Say TOpekans
CraZed Without Drugs.
Federal Law Prohibiting Sale
i'm Effect Five Days.
AMONG GOOD FAMILIES HERE
Habit, Unknown to Friends,
Has Claimed New Victims.
Persons Have Sent in Applica-
ton for City's Aid.

'In several Topeka homes, persons
whom members of the families never
suspected of being drug victims and in
some instances do not even yet realize
the cause of the trouble, arc being
secretly restrained. either by being
strapped to beds. or by having mem
bcrs of the family constantly in at
ndance.''-Statement from a Topeka
physician.
Today is the fifth day of the en-
forcement of the newly enacted fed
eraI law regulating the sale of habit
forming drugs. Yet in this short time
conditions are being revealed in To-
Deka which are astonishing. The
statement that scarcely physician in
Topeka has not been approached by
some victim of a drug habit in an eff
fort to secure drugs in the last few
days is substantiated by number of
doctors of the city They base thelr
opinion upon their own experiences
and conclude the search of drugs by
victims of the habit is general
i. L. Cofran, mayor, and w. l.. Por-
ter city commissioner or parks. an
nounced today that the city has a pro-
gram under consideration for the ad-
ministering of free treatment of drug
victims under city supervision, DIR.
\. B. Jeffrey. 706 Kansas avenue, has
volunteered his services to w. L. POr-
ter in the working out. of a plan for
using the city detention hospital as
sanitarium for the treating of drug
users
Mayor Cofran proposes that the up
per floor of the city Jail be used, as
we'll as the detention hospital. He
also expects George B. Huron, police
Judge, to cooperate.
There is no disposition on the part
of city officials to force treatment
upon persons not wishing it. But one
of the peculiarities of drug habit is
that it weakens the wills Cf its vic
Tins.
A person suffering the torments of
the damned. with every nerve a
twitching, jerking, red-hot wire, read
lily consents to any kind of a plan to
relieve him or her of the agony.
When a permanent cure is offered
under such circumstances, it is read
iIv accepted. but during the process
of the cure, frequently the patient
loses will power and seeks return
to the drug. Then what has been ac
complished is all for naught unless
the patient can be restrained. 1t is
here that the police judge enters into
the plan. A person wishing to accept
the city's offer of treatment. must en-
ter a plea of guilty to some charge
which surrenders the persons liberty
to the city for the time necessary for
the treatment. which is fifty or sixty
days. This is the method being fol-
lowed in other cities and which To-
peka proposes to copy.
Among Best People.
II understand that the shutting off
of drugs is bringing to light startling
conditions" said Mayor Cofran today.
The surprising thing about it is that
the use of habit-forming drugs seems
TO be quite extensive among what are
considered some of the best people Cf
the city. Many of these will be forced
to take a cure or suffer indescribable
torture Naturally those who have
not lost their self-reSpect will wish TO
be treated with few persons as pos
sible knowing of their conditions
Their feelings in the matter will be
given consideration by the city"
The city detention hospital is an
ideally secluded place for the treat
rnent of persons wishing to have the
matter kept quiet said w. /. Porter
THE city has finely equipped, large
$4,000 building off by itself. 1t is so
much larger than the city needs in
caring for cases OF contagious dis
eases. that other persons could he
cared for there without any danger.