New-York tribune., 1920-09-16
State Orders
Drug Addict
Clinics Closed
Herrick Says Step Is Neces-
sary Because Hospitals
Refuse to Complete the
Treatment of the Users
To Appeal to Albany
Control Commissioner Will
Request Appropriation to
Build Three Institutions
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


=, ALBANY, Sept. 15.-As the result Of
a conference with Federal officials,
Walter Herrick, Of the State Narcotic
Drug Control Commission, has ordered
closed the addict clinics established
by the department in sixteen cities of
the state. The Isles were objected
to on the ground that they merely
served as drug emporiums" for ad
diets as long as the work begun there
was not completed by subsequent hos
pital treatment.
Commissioner Herrick declared yes
terday that the continuation Of the
clinics was deemed impossible because
hospital treatment would be afforded
for drug users. Hospital officials were
said to refuse to admit these victims.
I'VE cannot get these people into
hospitals in the state" declared Com
missioner Herrick "The hospitals in
Albany, New York and other cities in
the state have closed their doors TO
them. Buffalo is the only city in the
state where we still can obtain the hos
pital treatment necessary for complete
cure"
Would Build State Hospitals
He will submit recommendation to
the 1921 Legislature calling for the
construction of q state hospital sys-
tenn for the treatment of addicts. He
has not as yet formulated any definite
plans, but will work out program
soon in cooperation with State Archi-
tect Lewis F. Pitcher.
Commissioner Herrick seeks appro-
priations to construct three hospitals,
one in New York City. one up state
probably at Albany, and one in the
western section. He declares it is
just as important that the state take
care of its drug addicts as it is that
the state provide treatment for it's
feebleminded and consumptives.
The commissioner says the number
of addicts in the state Is almost equal
to the number of persons being treated
There are about $4,000 of the latter
and about $4,000 of the former. There
are thirteen state institutions for the
insane. Mr.. Herrick believes three
hospitals would be sufficient to handle
the drug users.
Says Hospitals Closed Doors
ave were compelled to close our
clinics" Commissioner Herrick said.
because It is unanimously agreed
among experts that drug users cannot
be cured by what we may term 'ambu-
latory' treatment. The object of the
clinics was to bring drug users down
to the irreducible minimum in their
use of drugs and then send them to
hospital for complete cure.
I'VE would take q man who would be
using, say, fourteen grains of drugs q
day, and by degrees, through clinic
treatment, reduce him to three grains
day. From this point on hospital
treatment is necessary. Now the hos
pitfalls won't take these people. I can't
say that l blame the hospitals, because
drug addcts do not make the best of
patients.
Il sincerely hope the Legislature will
act favorably on my appropriation re-
quest. In the event this request is
granted We will reopen the clinics"
Clinics were established in Albany
and New York when the new depart
ment was opened, early in 1919. Since
Commissioner Herrick has been in
charge others have been opened in
Buffalo, Binghamton, Corning Hor-
nell, Kingston, Middletown. Newburg,
Oneonta, Port Pervis. Rochester, and
Saratoga Springs. About $4,000 men
and women were registered for treat
ment. The commission will continue
its work supervising the issuing of
prescriptions by physicians.