The Washington herald., 1922-12-20

DecemDer 3l, lSSl, So56, 40 ,S45, |
an increase Of $sss, STAG
pirates and among the upper social
planes we find the vice is more
prevalent" he said.
Tracing the development of the
various forms of drugs used by the
addicts. DIR. Dickerson explained
the solace and mental stimulation
brought to the drug user. Contact
with other drug users Ia the greatest
source from which SNOW birds
come, he said ~
GAINED DURING WAR.
The war was blamed as the cause
of appalling increase in drug addic-
ton by the speaker, who said:
"SeveraI millions of young Ameri-
cans lived under extremely unnat-
ural and trying conditions in Euro
pean countries and quite naturally
acquired certain customs and habits
and laxity of moral restraint which
at home would not ordinarily be
tolerated. Consequently many sought
various types of stimulation TO help
tide over the strenuous period OF
conflict"
Painting a picture of how return
ing troops and civilians from Euro
pean ports and the crews of ocean
going vessels smuggle drugs through
in their personal belongings. in
fruit. in letters and in the most in
conceivable ways. the speaker in
sisted that it was quite impossible
for customs officials to check up
and catch all importers who were
without sanction by law
All forms of transportation are
utilized in the narcotic drug traffic.
from aeroplane to the slowly moving
burro. and the unguarded borders
on the north and the south OF the
United States offer very little in the
way Of obstructing this traffic, the
speaker declared
After the drugs are delivered at
a seaport, he said. they are divided
into proper form for peddling. Co
raine is divided into small packages
called decks" each containing
three-fourths Of a gram Of the drug.
Morphine is usually disposed OF in
hypodermic tablet form, small cubes
and powders. Other supplies are
filled into "phials.'
LOOT IN POOL ROOMS.
The favorite haunt of the ped
dler" is the pool room. cheap cafe
or hotel, taxi rack. etc. he said.
Prospective purchasers are given
the "once over" before any pre-
liminary tenures are made. Any
suspicious actions on the part of
the purchaser will frequently lead
TO serious consequences.
Prices the habitue pays for his
daily supply vary in different To-
calitics. the speaker said. In some
of the seacoast towns where police
activity is not so great drugs may
be had for a reasonable price. The
average deck" purchased in Wash.
ington costs about 81. Morphine
in tablet form comes at IS per
tube here.
There are giant cliaues OF drug
barons working in this country
and on an international scale that
threaten seriously to affect the
morale of the nation. according to
the doctor.
Investigators recently have un-
covered foreign agencies at work
disseminating habit forming drugs
in this country. These agencies are
financed in Europe and Asia. Ger
tain Oriental syndicates have al
ready permeated China, many
Chinese towns being under domina-
ton of these syndicates.
by a system of intiBerant agents
free injections Of morphine were
given for all types of ills." said
DR.. Dickerson. After the habit
had been fixed these free injections
were withdrawn and the habitues
forced to buy drugs"
OFFERS PROGRAM.
There are now approximately one
million users OF narcotics drugs in
the United States, according to DR..
Dickerson. This figure is being In
creased at the rate of 1,400 per cent
in six years, he said.
To release America from the
narcotics drug evil DIR. Dickerson
suggests:
I. Establishment Of q Federal
narcotic drug bureau with ma
tional authority TO enforce its
laws in any State.
>. Registration Of all known
drug addicts.
:. Operation and control Of all
Institutions treating addiction
cases.
4. Severe prison sentences for
all offenders.