Evening star., 1925-07-27

ing their closest and loved friends and
family in order TO procure more self
indulgence.
High authority declares that there is
no known medication that will cure
an addict. Cures are effected in earlv
stages OF addiction, but they must
come through the patients own will
power and autosuggestion; they can
not come through antidote medication.
Physicians may aid in such cures,
mainly through their moral suasion
and mental treatment while gradually
reducing the dose allowed, but no
trustworthy doctor claims that he
can do more than aid the patient TO
cure himself by bracing his will
against his passion and weakness.
According TO a survey by the United
States Treasury made in 1919, there
are a million addicts in this country
some estimates, taking into account
the secretiveness Of the addicts. put
the total number at nearly 1000. 600
one out Of every % or 80 people.
counting all ages. They are marching
hopeiessly toward torture, loss Of will,
loss of self-respect, loss of love for
everything except the drug which is
killing them.
1t is not to save them that legisla-
ton can offer hope; it is not them
that international pacts can protect.
It Is to stop the supply Of the drug
tne 2,oOo or 5000 tons excess beyond
legitimate needs-that international
safeguards would be set up so as 10
make it harder for the fiends who nrev
on the non-addict at the all.night
pleasure resorts to get the poison wit h
winch Tor profit, they kill body and
soul.
The channels through which heroin
I and opiates are distributed to addicts $
are by depraved physicians who sell
prescriptions for the sake of the fees
no matter what is the condition of
the patient, and wholesale peddIers
who employ agents-often little girls
and boys-to peddle 1t to whoever
VIII buy. The American Medical
society condemns the giving of any
prescriptions for opium enabling the
addict TO fill it at a drug store. often
the addict gets numerous prescrin
tlons by using fictitious names and
applying to several physicians. THE
society recommends that physicians
administer the dose themselves. in.
stead of prescribing.
Heroin, which has become the com
mon form within the last 10 years. is
/ iii 90 lIii4So dS powerful as morphine
Over 70 per cent of addicts use
heroin; but heroin is forbidden in All
! hospitals and all medical preparations
| it has no legitimate use anywhere
| according to the United States Health
| Service and the Army and NAVY
| surgeons general.
| The first step toward abating the
evil was instituted by the United
States in an international conference
! at Shanghai in 1909, but it failed be
cause the resolutions adopted could
not bind the producers. The Hague
| conference in the Winter of 1911-I9lc
failed because only IL nations respond
ed. The second Hague conference. ir
| 1913, failed (although 34 nations par
| ticipated) because Great Britain and
| Germany refused to ratify the agree
ment after accepting the treaty sir
| principle" The fourth Hague con
/ ference, in 1914 with 43 nations repre-
sented), failed because Turkey, Greece
and Serbia, though in favor of the
law, were against it's enforcement
upon themselves as producers OF
manufacturers.
Then, through the World War, the
| League of Nations in 1919 fell he'll
to the opium problem. Many hearings
and conferences through the advisory
| opium committee have taken place a,
| Geneva, in which the United States
has been an active paxtiotpan&