El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-09
Use Of Habit Forming Drugs
Has Increased Largely
Among the Poor.
State and Federal Officers Are
Working to Check the Spread
of the Evil.

! IN rornIdding was me great Chi
Yet a far more dreadful wall en-
] closed China for centuries
I IL was unseen. but strong, real and
I ruthless il had the consistency Of
/ vapor. yet the solidity Of steel
] IL was the iuEldiOus- sitting barrier
I that arose from all the opium pipes
] OF the sleepy orient the wall that
I drugs built about the great empire OF
/ the east
From this slavery China IS now al
! most emaucipated. thanks 20 those
{ who are prosecuting the traffic in in
That a firm foundation for such a
[ bit OF masonry has been built here In
I our own New York is a fact not 70 be
denied but, nevertheless. is one dis
missed from the average mind as a bit
Z Of grotesquerie not 70 be worried
about too much.
The use Of drugs has increased
among the poor. The rich, as usual,
can take care OF themselves when
they wish the relaxation or eXhllara-
tion that drink affords 70 its devOtees.
But no Chinese wall VIII be allowed
10 arise from the tuning foundations
OF secret vice in New York Vigorous
efforts have been made 70 check the
use Of drugs, and the latest step in
the fight on narcotics is The appoint
meur OF the celebrated alienist Dr.
Carleton Simon as deputy police com
missioner now III aAaAIa OF AAa " AE
against that menace
DR.. Simon is the selection OF the
state, city and federal officials who
have studied The danger 70 the public
Of the constantly increasing number
Of drug addlcts and dealers in the
AHeuist Tells Danger.
Traffic in drugs said DR.. Simon
to me, has assumed proportions that
have awakened not only the city. but
also the state and federal govern
meQt 70 its danger.
This is the same danger that at
one time threatened the extinction Of
China
at must not grow into a mental
vail 20 surround our own popula-
ton"
The purpose OF the present reor-
gained narcotic division is due to the
fact that the police department, has
found il difficult 70 cope with the
drug addicts, whose number has in
creased far beyond that which they
were prepared 10 handle
Commissioner Richard Enright,' 7
said DR.. Simon, has given me instruc-
tons 20 go the Limit with his entire
police force behind me. We intend
not only 70 check the spread OF this
evil, but also TO prose suite those who
traffic In drugs unknown 70 the pub
lie.
salr. Enright has given his atten-
ton TO this menace TO. an extent I
which no one realizes, and he is de- I
termlned to rid New York OF this I
Devastating vice
The poor man. II he Is weak and I
Graves stimulation, viii find solace in ]
drug The man Of means can get ]
stimulated extensively and his in I
toXicalion VIII not last long.
But for a little money his less
fortunate brethren can buy enough
drugs TO get jag that viii last a
week
After-YFar Depression.
The state Of nervous depression
that follows every war is upon US.
ct IS a state that seeks artificial
stimulation. Those who have devel-
oped this requirement VIII satisfy It,
no matter how.
ANY agency that affects a mans
ability TO distinguish between right
and wrong is an immoral one, capable
Of causing great havoc Drugs
fhablt forming ouesl have this power
20 such an extent that anyone under
their influence is dangerous and also
must be classified as mentally de-
ranged and not responsible while un-
der such influence.
Under a state law, drug addicts
must register as such. There are
those who viii not or have not done
so. We must class item. when they
drugs, as dealers and 70 classify
lhtm as trafticking in drugs which
are menace TO public morals.
we viii help the unfortunate ad-
diets, prosecute the dealers and assist
those incurables' who must have
drugs. Now don't misunderstand
what mean by Incura bles.' ] be-
leVe that 10 man must have drugs
unless he is suffering from an intol-
erably painful disease or illness. The
helpless, agonlzed patient must be
soothed BY narcotics. No one else
needs them, and there IS no one who
can truthfully say he IS so far gone
in their use he cannot stop or respond
10 treatment.
This plague must be wiped off the
map OF New York city"
Drugs Seized In Raid.
saw recently thousands Of dollars
worth Of drugs They represent the
result Of The first raid superintendent
By DR.. Simon
Up il a loft building on West
zIth street is a great store Of drugs
mat bring torgetfulness TO their ad-
Tightly locked in a steel safe is
large tin cracker box such as IS seen
IN groceries. 1t contains Jumps OF a Z
WhltiHh stuff, the size o. large moth /
balls-morphine.
Nearby are old cracked earthenware /
cups containing a brown substance /
that looks ike hardened moIasses-
opium.
Beside the cups Of drug is a Chinese
opium pipe OF ivory and a metal that 1
looks like brass, curiously wrought ]
with It's bowl cunningly followed out /
to hold a bit OF the burning gum that /
bids sleep and dreams come.
Many are The ways Of becoming a /
drug addict. Some Of these paths were 1
told 70 me by an official who viii not /
be named here.
How Habit Is Formed.
Il know OF a sad case OF a pretty 4
little girl from a small town She I