The Washington times., 1922-05-22
DRUG ADD|CTS
FIND PEDDLERS
! IN D. {. EASILY
Victim of Narcotics Confesses
Securing Illicit Goods No
" Burden to Initiated.

A puzzling question to the police
and Federal authorities is how a
drug addict, who is a stranger In
larger city. can so quickly get ac-
nuainted with a peddler or some
other addict after his arrival. An
addict at Washington asylum de
tiared today that he was not N
Washington more than twelve hours
before he made the acquaintance Of
q drug user who soon put him in
touch with a peddler.
:ss"How can you detect an addict 80
oliCkly?" He was asked.
There is something mysterious
about it," he answered. Somehow,
an addict can detect another by the
look i'm his eyes and his general
department. A twiCh of the arm or a
movement of a shoulder may give
one the clue. The complexion is an
other tell-tale.
Met An Addict.
Shortly after I arrived here from
Atlanta I saw man coming toward
me whom l suspected Immediately
of being a drug user. | stopped him
on some flinsy excuse. i think
asked him the time of day or for a
match. just can't remember. Any
way. we struck up conversation
and | learned that he had the habit.
il was not very long before l was
on my way to a rendezvous Tor
peddlers. At first I was distrusted
when | encountered these robbers,
but | had become so accustomed to
dealing with their ilk that they were
soon convinced l was on the level.
From that time on i had entree 10
the rendezvous and so did any friend
] cared to introduce.
The Illicit drug sellers are a
heartless gang" he continued, with
a shake Of the head. Il determined
to shake off the habit after l took
my last shot and | asked the man
1 patronized where an institution
for treatment of an addict could be
heated Do you think he would
Tell me? He would not! Instead,
he merely grinned and intimated
something about all the fun | would
miss. But l shook the dust of that
joint off my shoes and / am here
Washington Asylum for treat
ment. am through with that
stuff forever.
A doctor who was standing
nearby winked at the addicts in
terrogator when the drug user made
the last emphatic remark.
NO. a drug peddler would not
care If you dropped at his feet pro-
Vided he received payment for the
last dose you bought from him.
the addict continued, While your
money lasts you are welcomed by
the thieves. but as sOoR as the pelf
is exhausted they would Kick you
into the gutter"
Cure Is Difficult.
As the interrogation withdrew
from the addict's cell the physician
remarked: "It is dollars to dough
nuts that he will be down in the
southwest seeking drugs in less
than an hour after he is out of
here. He did without it for three
years. but he gradually slid back
into the old rut again. The addiCts
are few and far between who can
shake off the habit. Personally, l
have never known of one. Ny ad-
vice TO anyone, no matter what
suffering they must endure, is not
10 start the habit. If person
must have drugs, let the physician
administer them. Prevention is
better than cure, the old adaSe
says"
The addict in question said he
was a photographer and had made
good money. but he lost position
after POSITION because of his addic-
ton to drugs. He was a fine speci-
men of Young manhood and was
highly Intelligent. He could have
been listed. with credit TO himself,
with the producers OF the world.
His tale was tragic and should
serve as a lesson. Gagged like an
animal, he walked to and fro in his
room while he reCited his story.