The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-11-16
DIR. MENAS s. GREGORY
BY HORTENSE SAUNDERS

New York. Nov. DECENTRALIZATION
authorities long have realized that the
most dangerous criminal is the drug
addict. So. partly as a measure of
safety. they have made some effort to
cure him.
But the addict must become a GRIM
inal before his case is given much
consideration by the authorities out
side. In New York, in fact. the only |
way he can be treated, unless lie Is
wealthy enough to hire his own doc
tor and go to a private sanitarium, Is
to get sent up for some offense.
Naturally. this includes only a small
percentage Of narcotic users.
In spite of the propaganda against
the use of drugs and the educational
campaigns waged. little has been done,
in this city at least. to help the drug
addict. to protect society against him,
or to learn what becomes Of those who
are cured
Intensive Study Made
When Richard G. Paterson Jr. as
sunled charge Of the New York de-
partment of correction, and found the
management of drug users one Of his
problems, he named a committee in
Guiding such men as DR.. Menas S.
Gregory. director Of Bellevue hospital,
to make one Of the most intensive
studies OF the drug problem ever IN
~dertaken. and to find out how CT
fective various cures are
Their report of a years investiga-
ton, 10Y prepared. shows that tho
cure usually is easy enough. but that
staying cured is a different matter.
and that the average drug user who
has been pronounced cured goes back
to the habit IS soon as he finds him.
self again In the same condition
which produced the original desire
for drugs.
In short, the committee found that
the important consideration In deal
ing with drug addicts Is not the cure,
but the rehabilitation. That, unless q
mans psychology car be changed and
unless his conditions Of living arc
made more congenial to his tempcra-
mcnt, he will backslide. That It does
no good to cure a drug addict and
then return him to his original en-
vironment.
3lS Addicts Observed
THE research has been conducted
at one of the wards Of the psychic
pathic division Of Bellevue hospital,
said DR.. Gregory, where u beds ant
q full-ti linz medical staff, with care
fully selected nurses, keepers, and
24.hour guard was maintained to SCI
that no drugs we're smugeled IN 70 tn
patients who voluntarily committee
themselves for observation.
During the year given 70 the %
servation 3l8 addicts were studied
The youngest was 10 years old, tn
oldest Is, and approximately oI1c-hal
were between the ages Of 30 and 3
and over one-fourth between 20 an
20 years. Eighty three per cent "a
Z mitted criminal records.
: HERON was found 70 be the dru
! most commonly used-there were a
J. cases. Morphine was taken by 81.
! All accredited treatments were trie
out. None vas 100 per cent effective
The quickest and simplest metho
: Of stopping the addiction y abruI
withdrawal. . throc-day system. IT
disadvantages are the suffering n
volvcd and the prostratinn and co
lapse. The most humane form I
,. treatment, accordino - Dr.. 0regor
y that Of giving progressively decreal
Ing doses Of morphine. TWO weeks
! required tor this. The advantages q
b the abeenCe o. great dilninutlCn
aauaro essffapanU the Afaadva0knn0 a