New-York tribune., 1919-08-26
DIR. Copeland, After Three
Rebu6Fs Elsewhere, Final
" Utilizes Institution on
North Brother | IS | a II d
Removes Other Patients
City Will Provide Occu.
patton for Victims So
as to Hasten Recovery

The actual treatment of drug addicts
by the Board of Health is under way.
After sundry delays and disappoint-
ments, Health Commissioner Copeland
has taken things into his own hands
and has commenced filling the TOO beds
at Riverside Hospital. North Brother
Island, with drug patients. BY We'd
ncsday night more than 800 persons
who have been having their drug
dosage reduced at the clinic in Worth
Street will be III the hospital.
The routine work of the Island will
be carried on by such patients as are
able to work a few hours day.
There will be occupation for carpen-
ters, painters, ship painters, ship
carpenters, tinsmiths, roofers, engin-
GERS, liremen, electricians, steam
filters, gardeners and clerks. Unskilled
addicts may act as cleaners. porters,
walters and laundry helpers. Provid-
ing sufficient work to occupy hand and
mind is part Of the cure. The Board
Of Estimate will be asked for an APP
preparation of $4,000 to cover e:i-
penses at Riverside until the end Of
the year
Injunction Is Threatened
The proposed plan to send the ad-
diets to Sea View Hospital for treat
ment was abandoned when it was
learned that the Civic League of Staten
Island intended asking for an injunc-
tion when the first patients arrived.
This was the third disappointment
suffered by Dr.. Copeland through the
collapse of projected schemes for the
care Of addicts. The first was the re-
lection Of the Warwick Farm promo
Sition, the second the Pelham Ray
Naval Training Station. When it was
learned that injunction proceedings
would follow the attempt to install ;d-
diets at Sea View the Health Commits
sioncr determined to go ahead on his
own account, use the Board of Health's
own hospital on North Brother Island
and forestall further delay or oppo-
sition
There are $50 drug patients at North
Brother Island now; fifty will be sen;
out to-day and 100 tomorrow. More
hitherto occupying the hospital have
been moved. The staff at Riverside
has been increased and for the iirst
tlmc IN the history Of the city tho
Decentralization Of addicts is being CON
Quoted in extensive and systematic
fashion. The BOARD of Health is still
IN charge Of Sea View Hospital and
~ tuhcrcular cases have been sent
there from Riverside.
Or. Copeland Tells OF Fight
lN a letter sent to the Mavor vos.
terday explaining tho situation Or.
Copeland touches on the opposition he
has encountered and outlines his plans
Tor the treatment of addcts. He said:
"tounded largely on misapprehcn-
SION, there has been opposition to each
ana al OF the plans put forth by this
department for the care of the drug
addlcts. On the part of some critics
mere has been lack OF cosmic out
ico". They have assumed dog-in the
manger attitude, denying the use of
space III overly conmodious buildings
because these buildings wore erected
or otncr uses. Since in private prac-
t'ce ! am specialist I may be per-
'''ooeo 10 say that specialists are frc-
quently narrow
end there, and with that which is more,
ous-further delay-1 have turned
10 my own department. for immediate
at North Brother Island, has been va,
Gated Of other patients and will be
used exclusively for addicts. The vene
real cases have been taken to Kings
ton Avenue Hospital. One of the Va
cant buildings at Sea View Hospital
mas been filled with the tuberculosis
patients from Riverside
u am sorry to have had to turn to
you so many times for assistance in
The drug problem. | am sure it will
be relief to you, as it is to me. ia
nave some scheme of action actually
IN operation. We will no longer be
ohllged TO answer the question, What
Is the city going to do with it's drug
addlcts? p There is no question now
The city is taking care of its drug
addicts at the Rivereide Hospital"