The Washington times., 1921-12-14
PERIL Of DRUGS
SURF ASSES WAR,
EXPERT CLAIMS
Or. Perry N. lichtensteln Offers
Arms Delegates Plan to
End Evil.

NEW YORK. Dec. s14.-Holding
that a solution Of the drug evil
problem is a matter Of paramount
importance to the entire world. DR..
Perry M. Lichtenstein. prison physi,
clan at the Tombs, presents what
he believes to be a practical rem
edy for the situation and suSRests
that the delegates to the interna-
tional armament conference give se-
rious attention to the narcotic menace
before taking flral adjournment.
During the nine years that he
has been doing prison work DIR.
Lichtenstein has had an experience
second to no physician's in obserya.
ton and treatment, of the drug ad-
diets. His records show that during
that time he has treated no less
than 5000 men and women victims
of this great social menace.
Briefly, DR.. Lichtenstein's plan.
which he is confident will, II adopt.
evil within a decade, is:
DIR. Lichtenstein's Plan:
l. International restrictions on the
growth of the poppy and the coca
plant.
2. Permit growth of these plants in
quantities sufficient to provide for
legitimate medicinal purposes only.
Forbid or restrict manufacture Of
synthetic narcotics.
=: Permit growth of the plants
onder Government supervision only.
B. Importation, expectation and
locally to be in the
hands Of the Government alone.
There is no greater menace to the
soclal structure Of the world today
Than the rapidly increasing use OF
o plum, morphine, heroin and other
drugs" said DR.. Lfch.
ITO my mind this Is an
sven more serious matter than future
wars.
Worse Than War.
Narcotics are causing the destruc.
ton OF millions Of the youth of the
world. They are killing more people
han wars. The injurious effect on
action OF the drug on pro-generation
s inestimable. I believe that this IL
more appalling than the dread deaths
of the bullets Of the future.
Here In the United States, where |
We have more users Of these drugs
han In any nation In the world, with |
he exception of China, our State ana |
Federal statute books are covered |
With laws enacted to eliminate or |
abate this ev.il Instead, the habit has |
srown 80 widespread that II IL now |
'stimated that there are no less than |
200 900 addicts in this country TODAY. |
80 we must look to some remedy |
'ther than the enactment Of laws to |
punish the distributors to the un-
ortunates that are it's victims. The |
positive root Of the evil must be at
acked.
Only by an international conference |
uch as il in session in Washington
oday can an effective solution be |
considered. II the nations
4 the world believe that a menace to |
he safety of their peoples. such as |
var is, is Of sufficient importance to
all just such a conference a. the |
present one, surely the menace in their
afety that the drug evil provides, a
menace even more deadly than war, is
4 at least equal import.
Two Lawmakers Commended.
DR.. Lichtenstein warmly commend.
d the efforts that are being made by
'enator Hiram johnson and Congress.
nan Kahn of California to bring to
he consideration of the armament
difference the question Of the eradica-
ion, or at least control, OF the drug
sing habit. He praised, also, the reso.
utions adopted at the recent anti.
arcotic convention held in San Fran.
isco as the result Of the San Fran
isco anti-narcottic campaign.
These resolutions, which the con.
ention resolved to petition Congress
, make into laws. provide for the i'm.
osition of a prison sentence, with a
ainimum of one year, for first of.
enders caught selling narcotics; the
eportation of aliens caught selling
arcotics. Government regulation OF
Of narcotics, and an iu.
irrational understanding to regulate
sporting, importing and manufactur.
lg Of these drugs.
The poppy. from which is derived
plum directly, and morphine and
Groin indirectly, Ia grcwn mainly in
ndia Rnd China. DR.. Lichtenstein ex-
Iained. The cocoa plant, from which
derived cocaine, is a product of