South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-24
DRUG MENACE In
j. S. NOW SERIOUS
Noted Authority on Addiction
Outlines Narcotic Evils
and Solutions.

u.s. YORK Feb %. - Politics
ana public ignorance and hysteria
a.. preventing the solution Of the
narcotic drug problem.
The proposed congressional inves-
tlr.toa is the only path 70 solution
bearae congress e. the only exist
Ing l.s.nterestcd party.
oriate addiction is not crime.
There are more narcotic sufferers IN
s.s pajamas than in the workhouse.
Iorest addiction is a family skeleton
iu unexpected numbers.
Honest people 90 afflicted have
been driven from medical study and
care 90 commercial "cure" from the
commercial "cure" 20 the admins
tratIve panacea-and from the ad-
illustrative panacea 10 the under
world poddler.
The number OF people in the grip
OF narcotic drugs ls pure guess
work New York state has 10000
registered addicts. However, most
addicts probably avoid registration
because Of false popular and official
conception and In protection OF
their regulations and families and
economic existence.
Over Million Victims.
do think that the government
estimates OF between 100000 and
100000 addicts lu the United States
IS not exaggerated
Unknown numbers OF soldiers
emerged from the war drug addicts,
victims OF necessary emergency
medication
The average youthful addict is a
recent and awful crop OF underworld
exploitation made possible by hys-
terra and neglect of true education.
Addiction 10 0piates-0pium and
fits derivatives like morphine and
herOin-is disease and not a habit.
Use OF cocaine Is generally a vice.
largely confined TO the criminal and
defective class. Opiate addiction is
a physical condition: cocaine use IS
an Indulgence. Opiate addicts take
opiates 10 keep from being sick.
Cocaine users take cocaine 90 get a
boost. TO get "lit up, to go Ola a
"sprcc."
Science therefore recognizes only
op.ates as true physical addiction.
Some cases can be relieved OF the
condition in a few weeks. some in
few months. and some go on in
definitely.
Bishops Remedy.
Fewer will have to 90 on indef-
initeIy when medical study and in
terest IS again made possible. and
some OF the scientific problems
worked out. There is no disease in
which every case Is cured or durable
Formulated generaliztions are un-
scientific and vicious, and the cause
OF much Of the present situation.
This. as 1 zee IL, is the remedy
for the drug evil:
Make the criminal and degen-
crate addict a police problem.
Make the honest and innocent
addict a medical problem. for
handling by his own family
physician or by any other legiti-
mate means possible until the
education and the machinery to
do better is perfected
Thus automatically abolish
the peddier and the smuggler.
Remove politics from interior
ence with medicine. and encour-
age honest sanitariums and pro-
mote medical research.
Terrorism Only Injuries.
Terrorism caused by incompeten
drives" and campaigns agains
all addicts. honest and criminal IN
discriminatory. IS working grea
damage. Ignorance and fanatacisn
I'm Office are Jumping police prob
lens with medical problems anC
dealing with the scientific aspects o
the situation IN an unscientific way
Recent administration has fOsteret
the making OF new addicts and tn
exploitation OF the older ones. 1t &
entirely different from the llquo
situation. The addict with money
can buy his drugs; the penniless ad
dict must steal to get them.
Hysteria and advertised morbidit
have inspired youthful curiosity un
3 checked by real education.
Before 1914 opiate addiction wa
almost entirely due 10 ignorance AM
accident. the result OF misguided o
unavoidable therapeutics. Paten
medicines are no longer sold tadis
criminately with a hidden opiat
content. Accidents. ignorance. and
emergency mediCaton-as was un