Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
MODERN YOUTH NOT ADDICTED
TO DRUGS, COL. MUTT REPORTS
Vicious Practice Is MISSING
Among Younger Sets,
Survey Shows.
Field Agents Reports Hold
Use of Narcotics Is
Falling Off.

The much maligned American
f1apper and her boy friend, the sheik,
emhattled subjects for violent charges
and countercharges of hip-fash toting,
immortality and going to the devil
generally. certainly cannot be &C.
cused Of one vicious p1actise-drug
addiction---is the emphatic opinion of
Col. l., G. Mutt. head of the narcotic
division Of the Treasury Department.
Coming to the defense of the young
folks. who have been lampooned and
caricatured from many sides as TAX
ing a. merry slide on the slippery
broad path leading downhill, Col. Mutt
said nationwide survey Of the situa-
ton just completed had disclosed not
only that there was little drug addic-
tion among the youthful, but that the
estimated number Of addicts had
fallen off within two years from more
than 10000 for the country to less
than 100, 900.
Cold figures from the survey, Col.
Mutt said, come to the defense of the
hoy and girl and the school child.
They show that the average age of
the addict Is climbing upward. This
means. he explained. that the Illicit
peddlers and purveyors of poisonous
drugs, capable of forming a. vicious
and almost inesca pable habit, have
been signally failing lately in efforts
to gain new recruits for their army
Of drug slaves.
Most Addicts in Thirties.
The average age Of the male addict
is placed at 81 years in the survey
made by the field force of~the narcotic
division, while the average age Of the
female addict Is somewhat lower, at
80 years.
This Is taken by officials in charge
as most encouraging sign for the
rising generation, because. they say,
the average age of the drug addict
discloses that this average addict is
old enough to have started the prac-
tice even before the enactment Of the
Harrison narcotic act, about II years
ago. No denial Ia made that some
new recruits are being enlisted in the
ranks OF the dope hends," but the.
gain Is estimated is smaller than the
loss on account of death and other
causes. The enlistment. 1t is most
emphatically pronounced. Ia not being
made for the most part among the
new American generation.
The high price Of narcotics in illicit
channels, as cOntrasted with the
TeaSOIldDIe prices III uIuR SlOTeS anu
other legal and licensed places was
said by Col Mutt to be one factor in
the fight to keep the rising genera
ton in America from falling into the
pernicious drug habit.
For instance, Col. Mutt said, drug
stores throughout the country gen
orally sell morphine at 2 cents a grain.
Physicians can buy it at $3.50 an
ounce of $50 grains, wholesale, or at
the rate of something less than
cents a grain.
But the drug peddler, with his
decks" of the Illicit stuff. can usually
get from 81 to 81 a grain, as contrast
ed with the legal price of cents for
the same amount. AS drug addicts de-
mand several grains daily for satisfac-
ton. Col. Mutt said, the cost of main
tanning a drug appetite now ranges
around SIS to So each day. There are
about four shots" or doses in each
grain.
Slaves Driven to Crime.
Those poor souls who have fallen
slaves to the habit, however. accord
ing to Col Mutt, are usually driven,
unless they have large income. to
all sorts of devices, vices and crime
to attempt to get the money neces-
sary to satisfy their terrible craving.
Even an appetite for liquor can be