New-York tribune., 1919-07-22
City Physicians
Offer Relief i'm
Drug Situation
Medical Association Agrees
to Follow Copeland's Lead
and Give Uniform Pre-
scr'iptions for Addicts
Will Eliminate Cocaine
Health Commissioner Says
He Will Back Those Who
Adhere to His Regulations

| tAVdkkGI Z W 10
A solution of the drug situation is
in prospect. The Medical Association
for the Study of Drug Addiction met
in the Broadway Central Hotel yester
day afternoon and after a conference
with Health Commissioner Copeland
and Miss Sara Graham Mu]hall, Deputy
Commissioner of the State Narcotic
Commission. resolved to stand solidly
behind the Board of Health in its treat
ment of the drug addict.
The medical association is made up
of approximately hundred of the
physicians Of New York who make a
speciality of the treatment of drug ad-
diction and who are responsible for the
care Of more than 5000 of the city's
addcts. When the Board of Health
started to register addicts, DR.. S. T.
called these physicians together and
advised them not to make out prescrip-
i tons because Of confusion in the laws
and the possibility Of arrest. This
meant that their patients were thrown
on the hands Of the Health Depart
ment and it's already overcrowded clinic
on Worth Street.
Yesterday these physicians turned
out in full force and had an opportu
nifty to air their views on the registra-
ton system. They told of the misery
of some of their patients and indicated
that they were uncertain as to what
they should do and still keep within
the law. DR.. Lewis J. Siegal, treasurer
of the association. asked Dr. Copeland
what protection physicians would have
from prosecution on the part of the
Federal authorities if they adhered to
the laws before them. The Health
Commissioner replied:
of the medical profession assumes
the attitude that the Health Depart
ment has assumed in the treatment of
addicts, we will back you" DR.. Cope
land spoke at the meeting on behalf
of Major D. L. Porter, of the Inland
the raids on physicians and druggists
last week, but who was unable to be
present in person.
The outcome of the meeting was the
adoption of a resolution on the part of
the physicians to treat addicts in ac-
cordance with the rulings laid down
by the Board of Health.
To Eliminate Cocaine
They agreed, upon the advice of DR..
Copeland, to eliminate cocaine alto
gether on the ground that it is a men
tai stimulant and not physical crav-
ing like morphine and heroin. They
decided to fix fifteen grains day as
the maximum does and to REFUGE final
ly the patient a quarter of a grain
each day. Finally, they decided to pre-
: scribe sufficient for one days use
only. One Of the physicians present
was DR.. Edward z. Gardner, of 246
East Seventy-first Street, who was ar
roctp0 1aQt Uvook and 10
bail.
This is the first organized attempt
on the part of the city physicians to
take uniform stand on the drug ques-
!. ton, and it is expected that the con-
. gestion at the Board of Health clinic
will be greatly relieved when the ply
sicians resume the care Of their pa
TENTS. The association proposes to
: open private hospital for the care
, OF addlcts and to make thorough
study of the question from all angles.
| =? Praises Copeland's Stand
In opening the meeting DR.. Silverman
said that if Dr. Copeland had done
nothing else in his capacity of Health
Commissioner than arouse the public to
T. the seriousness of the drug menace, he
= had earned the everlasting gratitude of
, the entire nation.
4 He pointed out, however, that the
i Harrison law meant prescribing only
3 for immediate relief, which might be in
z terpreted to mean every six hours
: What then was to happen to the addicts
Jobs? Their daily routine? On the
other hand, in obeying the injunction of
r the Board of Health to prescribe suf-
ficent for twenty-four hours use, physi-
h clans were not giving "immediate re.
n lief" and were liable to prosecution un-
y der the Federal laws.
DR.. Copeland, reused to indignation
= by the allegations that have been d.
. rected toward him in the last few weeks
: answered in a comprehensive survey OF
the situation an da reputation of state
= ments made that he was fostering the
y drug problem because he had a fancy
. cure up his sleeve which he hoped tc
+ commercialize.
, medicine that | may choose to practice
:. !. in spite of the dictum of DR.. John P
:. Daven," declared the Commissioner.
" Knows Physicians Hardships
II ~ know the hardships, the hurdles
n and the hazards that you physicians are
up against on this question, but regis
6 tratlon was lnaugurated for the pro
e lection OF the honest physician no less
5 than for the benefit of the addict him
d self
It "Don't give the addict any cocaine
The opium addict is sick man who
e will die if he isn't treated and whe
IL Will probably commit murder before
ne dies. For the safety of the city
opium addicts must be treated. Bo
would not perscrbe a single grair
Of cocaine. And right here let me- say