Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-01-10
DRUG EVIL
DECLARED
REAL KNOT
Problem One Demand
ing Immediate Action
State Officers Agree
In Session Here

OT6BOu ndlSpSiS r.
most serious one and demands I'M
mediate attention.
Thus far members of the state
board Of health and state board
of pharmacy assembled here today
on invitation of Governor olcott
to consider ways and means for
meeting the drug problem are
agreed. AS to the proper solu-
tion Of the problem, however,
members Of the two boards are
divided into almost as many
channels as there are members on
the two boards.
Report Is Dead
A report on the narcotic evil
in Oregon prepared by DR.. Fred
erick A. Stricken, secretary OF the
state board of health, and Frank
S. Ward, secretary of the state
board of pharmacy, at the re-
quest of Governor Olcott and sub
mitted at today IS meeting divides
the states narcotic problem into
three classes: Peddlers, durable
addicts and incurable addicts.
AS a solution of the "peddler''
problem the report suggests more
active police service, long prison
sentences and large fines.
Durable addicts, the report
recommends, should be committed
for period of at least Is months
to an institution for treatment,
Such an institution, the report
points out, is absolutely essential
to successful solution of the drug
evil, but it should not be costly
undertaking because if properly
handled it should be made sell
supporting.
1900 Addicts, Estimate
For the incurable drug addict
the report recommends a source
of supply of drugs under jstric1
supervision where the addict car
receive his necessary supply a.
cost.
A survey of the situation il
this state, the report points out
shows that there are approx
mately 1850 drug addicts in Port
land with probably an additiona
$50 addicts outside of Portland
Drug addicts, it is pointed out
favor the slum districts of large
cities and railroad centers. While
complete cures are held to be en-
tirely possible, relapses are fre
quent because of an inherent de
feet Of character in the averag'
drug addict.
While it is agreed that th'
state must move in solving tn,
problem, the report points out tha
the problem is an national on
and an international one. Th'
English government must be per
suaded to suppress the wholesal
production of opium in the Brit
ish possessions and in inter
national agreement must b.
reached to prohibit the importa
tion of the drug except for med
icinal purposes.
Houck Starts Debate
DR.. George Houck of Roseburg
member of the state board o
health, found himself in a hope
less minority when he started tn
days discussion with the state
ment that all drug addicts ar
mentally deficient. Any treat
ment which failed to take int
consideration this phase Of tn
problem is doomed to failure, h
declared. While a large percent
age of addicts are durable man.
are doomed to become permamen
state charges he declared.
Both DR.. F. M. Brooks and DR.
G. J. Smith of Portland, mem
bers of the board OF health, tool
issue with DIR. Houck's statemen
relative to the mental deficienc,
of drug addicts. Many of the ma
tion's most brilliant men and wo
men have been drug users, accord
ing to DR.. Brooks while DR.
Smith insisted that the use o
narcotics did not necessaril,
stamp person as insane or ever
feeble minded.
Drug addicts are not institu
tional cases, according to DR.
Smith, who opposed any move TO
| a state appropriation for an in
| stitution for the care Of drug cas-
es. In the opinion of Dr.. Smitl
drug addicts should be registere'
| and their names supplied to ever,
legitimate source of supply a
well as to every peace officer Il
Ithe state for their guidance Il
handling each individual case a
f0ontinued on Page Five-)