The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-07-17
( A|[)|D| i
TRAGIC LETTERS
PLEAD. FOR PROBE:
TWO West Virginians Among
Those Cited by Con-
E;p gresham Volk.
ey EDWARD m. THIERRY.

sy EDWARD M. THIERRY.
WASHINGTON, July 17.-Many
drug addicts among the 100000
in America are appealing for a con
gressional investigation OF the mar
cote drug situation.
They hope such an investigation
viii remedy apparent defects in
present regulatory legislation and
will lead to governmental research
to find semitic cure for drug ad-
diction.
Addicts are writing Congressman
Lester d. Volk. who is leading the
fight for the investigation. prayer
full letters telling of their own
tragedies and urging action,
Contrast these letters" says
Volk. himself a physician, with
the statements which have lately
come from high officials in which
they say that in all cases they can
effect a cure; that they will wipe
out within six months all cases OF
addiction; that the drug problem OF
the United States is already solved
Ignorance OF the facts is inexcusa-
BILE"
Congressman volk today gave on,
the following as typical letters:
WEST. VIRGINIA: Young man
with wife and 5-year-old child, an
addict since 1915. says:
without morphine I go blind
and cannot support my family.
have gone through a living hell:
have been in IL cures without re-
suit. One was a hell hole where
nails were driven through board
and it was placed a foot over my
cot to restrain me in my delir1um
"All that has ever been done for
unhappy addicts like myself is to
put Us in jails. and asylums, where
self-respect is lost and one is driven
to crime or suicide. Why cant we
be treated by reputable physicians.
instead of being looked upon as
criminals?
'.sI have no hope Of saving dol
lar as long as / have to use the
drug and pay the prices forced on
US. would mortgage my birth birth
right for real cur
CONNECTICUT: Married WON
an, morphine addict for ten years,
caused by physicians giving her In
jections to induce physical rest.
Her husband says: III
Full records of my wife's case
are on file with the Internal Reve-
nue. Bureau, and although her treat
ment by doctor and druggist was
declared to be within the law by
the narcotic director, agents SO ter
rorized the druggists thai they re-
fused 70 fill nrarrinfinnE I38&t
sit is matter OF life and death
with my wife, yet official terrorism
prevents proper treatment"
NEW YORK: a widow, college
graduate, an addict for years
through accident during critica:
Illness, says:
Il used to laugh at people con-
tracing the so-called drug habit
but after my illness went through
agony and horror and when I wau
revived with morphine 1 became
aware that was an addict witho out
it.
II tried to be cured, but 1 was
insn1ted and jeered at for my pains,
and after taking a home treatment
that cost me every cent owned, I
was unconscious for 48 hours.
For three years I have strug
gled to support myself and my fam
lily, hut these have been years OF
torture. Every day I nave been
compelled to go for the dole OF nor
phine to keep body and soul to-
gether.
81 am neither criminal nor de-
graded, but I live in constant fear
Of being railroaded off to cure
that doesn't cure"
WEST VIRGINIA: Women, 20
years old, an addict for 40 years,
says:
persons falling victim to mar
cotic drugs, usually under circum-
stances over which they have no
control, are being undu1y punished
by our country's laws as they are
written and enforced today.
Naturally do not hope to re-
coyer, but for the sake of others I
hope remedy will be found for
this malignant i'll.
II have been allowed by the fed
eral authorities 20 grains Of NOR
phine every five days, and for 40
years I have taken this amount by
the needle. Now the federal agent
has ordered that hereafter must!
take it in liquid form only.
w IL luis Lux Ii sV5s & glib ~ AhoAS0
quate for my mind and body and it
costs $50 a week-and my pension
Of $50 a month is my only income
--wh under scientific admin
[stration 1t would cost only $780,
OHIO: Married woman. an adj
dict since the birth of her child "a
years ago. Her husband says:
During her illness morphine was
given for relief, and she unwititnglyl
became a slave to it. BY the advice
II our village doctors took her to
an institution, but she became Dar-l
tally an imbecile. We tried again.
with the same result. 5
She tried many times to commit
and she was committed tot
an insane asylum, but she pleaded |
so for mercy that I fled with her to
: distant state, and since she has
been to institution after institution
She is now a poor, spent, hui
sorrowfu1 invalid, helpless