New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-04
Congressman Asserts Solu.
ton Of Problem Rests
Solely With Police and
the Medical Profession
Hits Exploited Panaceas
UpIift, Reform and Morbid
Publicity Hinder Real
Aid TO Victims. He Finds

statement Of his views Of the mar
cotic drug evil. The solution, he de-
elares. lies in police treatment for the
10 20 90 per cent Of addiets who are
crooks. and medical treatment for the
other so or 90 per cent The efficacy
Of the Jones Miller bill. he says, will
depend entirely upon is sdminis,ra-
ton.
For twelve or fourteen years" says
Representative Volk, FIRST as physi-
clan. then as legislator. editor Of a
medical journal and lawyer. ! have
watched and been in close contact with
the phases through which the making
and interpreting OF narcotic laws have
passed in this country.
From a fundamentally simple prob
lem IL has become more complex
through manipulation by different and
recurring promotions Of the type which
may be termed mcdico-p political. COM
mereial. uplift and reform and plain
morbid publicity. These by intensive
publicity and other drives have at
tempted 10 put over special pannceas
or formulae purporting or advertised
20 remedy the situation.
Alcohol No Part Of Problem
Cocaine and alcohol have no part
IN the narcotic drug problem. Their
inclusion in the past has served only
20 complicate and Obscure the real ia
sues and problems. 1t has no scientific
basis.
Advertised and exploited panaceas.
contributing TO the prosperity Of spe-
c.fc treatments. remedies and so-cailed
'furcs.' or the publicity Of some admin
istrative experiments and exploitation.
have constituted the most important
evils Of the whole situation. They
have created the drug problem to-day
through their ineompeteney and propa-
ganda and have been the real obstacles
TO true medical and other remedial
progress.
1.-THE idea that narcotic addicts in
general are degenerate and criminal is
promoted fsllaey. The most reliable
estimates place the criminal or degen-
crate types Of addcts as from 10 70 20
per cent. About the same percentage
could be found in all other medical
conditions.
an other words. the real practical
problem Of the narcotic drug situation
the problem which is absolutely neg
lected to-day-is the humane and seien-
tihc care and. so far as possible, cure
Of from so TO 90 per cent Of those
afflicted with this condition who are
decent and respected in the community.
Hysteria and Panic Created
"Tho traffic whose commercial extern
sion is making more addicts today
was created as an industry by the
closure or obstruction OF legitimate
medical channels Of study and treat
ment and education. Wise and sane
administration and Interpretation Of
laws. aided by truly educational pub
LEFTY. has az times succeeded in in
terrupting and checking this traffie.
The sensational publicity. however,
periodically given 20 morbid aspects Of
the 10 TO 20 per cent Of addicts who
are admittedly criminal or defective
individuals. has served only TO create
hysteria and panic and 10 advertise
and renew and enlarge the business OF
the underworld eXploiter and the
quack.
"Cut out the profit for the under
world and criminal traffic and you make
no new addicts. Encourage honest at
tention 90 the needs Of the innocent
afflicted. made so by unavoidable or
necessary medication. open up the
avenues OF reliable information and
progress and education for the medi-
cal profession and stop their being ter
rorized and YOU take out Of the
clutches OF the underworld so 10 90
per cent Of its possible patronage and
practically all OF its profit
90 Per Cent Police Problem
ten to 90 per cent are addicts OF a
vicious or degenerate or criminal type.
These are a police problem. There is
no profit in their exploitation. They
herd together. They are self-eliminat-
ing. They are only OF interest as a
police or sociological problem. The
real profit which keeps alive the IN
derworld smuggling and peddling and
associated evils comes from eSploita-
tion OF honest and decent and often
illustrious people driven into its
clutches through enforced abandonment
and neglect.
The solution Of the drug problem
to-day is the eomnon-sense application
OF existing information. Make possible
the employment OF existing facilities
anu FUNhAfAtfs lUf Nlut-
spread further study and work among
those fitted and equipped for such en-
deavor i. e.. the great mass OF honest
practieing physicians, hospitals and
scientific institutions. and you have
gone a long way toward the settlement
Of this complicated situation and social
condition.
Let Physicians Direct Work
~ there had been one-tenth as much
publicity for facts as there was for in.
cidental spectacular morbid details and
for catchy slogans and for false pan
aeeAs. there would be no drug problem
to-day.
Let the police take care Of the 10 10
% per cent criminal or degenerate ad-
diets. Let the medical profession take
care Of the honest addicted persons.
Get the only profession that can solve
medical problems and care for the
sick back into its legitimate and
proper sphere without danger Of OPP
pressive administrative interference
and over-regulation and you at once
eliminate the profit from illegitimate
channels Of exploitation and solve the
problem Of smuggling and peddling.
Calvin Released on Bail