The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-02
ADDICTION
BLAMED ON
RING
Anti Narcotic Conference
Points to Smuggling and
z PeddIing as Big Evil.
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CONTINUED from First Page.)
druggists" said Brokmeyer. ''Of-
ficial reports show that only a
fraction of l per cent of the habit
forming drugs used for illegal pur-
poses filter out through these two
sources.
Smuggling on a wholesale scale,
and peddling by vicious groups are
the cause Of the drug habit. The
Federal government is iinpotent to
stop it. Law has failed to break it.
1.-THE only remedy champion is
the limitation of the production of
opium and other drugs" continued
Brokmeyer. THAT is a rational
policy and the only one likely to be
effective. / think there should be
some international agreement on
this point.
IF we could limit the production
and sale Of opium to legitimate medi-
cal purposes we would have no dope
problem"
Tells. Of Needle Infections.
A graphic picture Of dirty and I'M
sterilized hypodermic needles, result
ing in loathsome skin diseases, was
drawn by DIR. James A. Hamilton,
former commissioner Of correction
in New York State. He said young
folks began at first with shifting"
drugs given them by friends; that
signs OF irritation they use hypo-
dermics, nearly always without
sterilization, with the result that alb
cesses and other frightful infections
Of the skin and blood follow. This
phase Of the drug evil he thought
was its most sinister side.
DIR. Hamilton said he had been in
charge of II, 900 cases of drug addic-
ton and that the history of the ma
jority OF them was along this line.
Small envelopes called checks
are given the young addicts at first
for shifting purposes" he said.
Soon they discard shifting and
take to the injection method. After
that they are lost
Welcomed by Commissioners.
The meeting this morning was
largely for organizational purposes,
the conference being welcomed to
Washington by Commissioners
James r. Oyster, the Rev. J. s.
Pierce Of the First congregational
Church and DR.. William M. Barton.
former president OF the District
Medical Society. DR.. George NJ.
Koberp presided.
The afternoons work OF the con.
ference includes a tour of inspec-
ton to st. Elizabeth's Hospital and
number of addresses, including
one by President Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor.
Mrs. Dorothy Davenport Reid,
widow of the late Wallace Reid.
VIII appear before the conference
tonight.
Film Fans Greet Mrs. Reid.
Mrs. Reid came direct from Los
Angeles and was accompanied on
the trip by Adela Rogers st. John
OF culver City, a well known see
mario writer. Although the hour of
ARRIVAL was early there was a good
sized delegation of film fans at the
Union Station to welcome her to
the National Capital. A reception
committee of women headed bv
Miss Cora Rigby, president of the
National Woman's Press Club ex-
tended the official welcome to the
conference and presented her with
an exquisite bouquet of American
beauty roses.
II hope the public win under
stand that I am here on the most
serious mission" said Mrs. Reid.
. My whole life henceforth will be de-
voted to doing what 1 can to sup
press world menace-the drug evil.
/ have come all the way from Cali
fornia here because I want to CO.
operate in this movement with scien-
t1fic and professional men and
women striving for the common
good. II my efforts will aid in any
way to awaken the public conscience
to the peril that is now knocking at
the door, but Is already within, then
shall consider my life effort a
success"