The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-08-24
MUST CIT 1T OFT

Yorkvi!le Enquirer.
Cease the practice OF Hritins pre-
scrirtions for narcotics for habit
ual drug users at once or take yoIr
chances on serving a sentence in the
Federal penitentiary in Atlanta. Tha:,
in substance, was the ultimatum de.
livered to physicians and druggists Of
Yorkville by DR.. George ". Long,
United States narcotic inspector, at
meeting held in local physicians
Office here Friday evening. Declaring
that there were more drug users III
Yorkville and Chester than in any
two towns in South Carolina, Dr.. Long
told the physicians that it was against
the letter and spirit of the Harrison
Narcotic law for them to continue the
practice of writing prescriptions for
"dopers" and for druggists to sell the
stuff to them, and that it had to cease
at once, regardless of consequences.
DR.. Long gave the doctors to under
stand that they had violated the mar
cotic law every time thev had issued
a prescription to an addict since the
Harrison law became effective more
than two years ago, and he made it
plain that should the cases be pushed,
every Yorkville physician and drug
gist could now be convicted Of vio-
lation of the law and imprisoned in
the Federal penitentiary. However,
since the same condition prevails or
rather has prevailed all over South
Carolina, physicians will not be held
| responsible for their past delinquent
cies.
Following the inspectors interpre-
tation of the law, local druggists and
physicians made it plain that from
henceforth they would issue no pre-
scriptions for narcotics for regular
addicts and they will likely sign a
pledge to that effect within a few
days. Morphine addicts who ap'
preached physicians Saturday for
prescriptions for their regular sup
! plies, were refused, and one York
Vile drug store at least probably for
the first time in its history, refused
! to sell upon prescription the narcotic
to customers OF long years standing.
1t is conservatively estimated that
there are in Yorkville more than forty
persons, white and black, male and
female, who are addicted to the use
of morphine or some other narcotic
whose sale is forbidden by. Federal
statute. In almost every case they
are persons of small means. What is
going to become Of them is the ques-
ton that is now confronting the ply
sician. There is but one alternative
for them and that is to break loose
from the habit, a proposition that in
a number Of cases will be we'll nigh
impossible.
There is at the state hospital for
| the insane in Columbia, ward where
g. speciality of treating drug addicts
is made. One Yorkville man addict
ed to the use of drugs was sert there
some time ago by the local relief as
sociation and was cured of the habit
j Another is there now and the under.
standing is that provision will be
made whereby all persons addicted to
the use of drugs will be sent there for
treatment if they so desire.
The cost of the treatment at the
state hospital is s41.65 and arrange
ments have been made with the stats
board of charities and corrections
whereby the board will pay the cost
of treatment in each case where the
unfortunate is unable to pay, the un-
derstanding being that the addict re-
pay the board at some time in the
future. Commitment papers for al
least three local addicts were issued
Saturday and others will follow
There are in Yorkville people who
have been using morphine and other
! drugs for at least twenty years and in
other sections of York county are
some who have been addicted to the
habit for a much longer period. They
must take the cure. No longer will
they be allowed to buy the drug.
ENTENTE AGAINST PEACE
AT THIS TIME