New-York tribune., 1919-07-06
More Time Is Given Addicts
to Register With Depart
ment Of Health So They
Can Get Their Usual Dose
5000 Doctors Derelict
SummOnses Will Be Issued
TO Force Them to Regis
terUnderLaw's Provisions

Drug addicts will still be able TO get
their supply Of drugs from the city to-
morrow, even though they are not sup
piled with the dosage or registration
cards required by the new provisions
OF the State Department of Narcotic
Drug Control, according to an an
nouncement made yesterday at the Of
fee of DR.. Royal S. Copeland, Health
Commissioner.
Last Monday the Department of
Health, acting as the agent Of the state
Department Of Narcotic Drug Control,
started to register drug addicts at l2S
Prince Street, and beginning to-mor-
row no addict was to receive drugs un-
less he had registered and could pro-
duce registration and dosage cards.
The system has been temporarily sus-
pended by State Commissioner Walter
r. Herrick. 1t is believed that his &C
tion was prompted by the fact that i'm
mediate enforcement of the regulations
would work hardship on the addicts.
The method of branding" and iden-
tIfyng the city's drug addicts has been
devised only after considerable contro-
versy, in which the Department OF
Health, the State Department OF Nar-
cOlc DTuS COHtIOl, lHc w" Ava"
County Medical Society and the Bureau
of Narcotic Research took part.
No Branding Intended
About a month ago DR.. Copeland was
strenuously denying charges that ne
was planning to finger print, photo
graph and brand 250,0O0 habitual users
Of habit forming drugs" In answer to
the statement that he favored branding
addicts on the back of the hand. Dr.
Copeland said:
kind. When the municipal clinic IN
Worth Street was opened a suggestion
for registering addicts was talked OF,
but it was never intended that they
should be branded"
No silver nitrate method Of branding
drug addicts is mentioned in the regu-
la.ions Just announced by the state
Department Of Narcotic Drug Control.
In New York City drug addicts are re-
ouired to present themselves at the
rcgistration Office at 1913 Prince Street.
Here three cards bearing the name, ad-
dress and description of the addict, TO-
gether with his occupation and name Of
emnlover. are filled in. The addict Is
known by a number. The signature
and PHOTOGRAPH of the addict appear on
each card.
Two Cards for Each
A registration card and dosage card
are issued to each addict who registers,
together with a prescription sheet con-
tanning the name of the current month
and tie number Of the addict. The lat
ter will serve as a guide to the amount
of drug the addict receives when the
suspension of the regulations is lifted
and the law goes into effect, no drugs
will be given to addicts, either by
physicians or by the city clinic unless
they show the proper proofs OF regis
tration. Physicians are required 10
keep incorrect dosage cards which may
be presented to them, TO report the
holder, and to return the card to the
department in this city.
TO protect the addlcts, all returned
cards and other information concern
ing drug addicts are held in strict con
fidence and no information VIII be
given out without the authorization
OF the state commissioner or his depr-
ties, and then only in accordance with
the law governing drug addiction.
Yesterdays extreme heat proved no
deterrent 10 the many drug addicts
who flocked 70 the office to register.
These who came were from every part
of the city, representing every condi-
tion ard walk OF life. Slight Italian
youths. some hardly eighteen years
old. came with their mothers; prosper
Gus looking men OF middle age an
swered the questions briskly and un-
hesitatingly.
Copeland Answers Critics
DR.. Copeland answered the critics of
the new law for the registration OF
drug addicts yesterday by saying:
"The carefully devised regulations OF
the State Department of Narcotic Drug
Control will solve the narcotic problem
of New York City. They will act as q
protection for society"
A. r. Parkhurst, director of the Blu
reau of Narcotic Research, AZ West
Forty-second Street, attacked the new
law vigorously. He sad
Every restriction Is placed on the
practising physician who finds it noces-
sary to administer drugs, and none
whatever on doctors IN private saAi-
tariums and private hospitals. JHcre
are many crooked sanitariums which
advertise fake drug cures which will
will be able to charge large fees and
/ instead of efrecting cures, VIII turn the
addicts out broken III spirit. in mind
and in body. Then, physicians who
must use drugs to save the lives OF
patients who are suffering from pain
/ ful diseases are tied up. In short, q
lot of laws have been framed without
producing remedy"
When DR.. Copeland learned of Mr.
Parkhurst's objections he said they
were based on misinterpretation OF
the law.
Says None Is Excepted
"The regulations Of the State Depart.
ment of Narcotic Drug Control
said the Health Commissioner, "placci