The Washington times., 1934-12-10
NOTED DOCTOR
URGES WAR ON
DOPESELLERS

LHOT Oy LHG yOLtOULHy =" LtCL6, Huo
treated tens of thousands of male
factors. For many years phySi-
clan for the TombS prison. he Is
today medical assistant to the
District Attorney of NetO York
county. His pork in narcotic
cases has been recognized in his
election as Uice president OF the
World Narcotic Defense ASSoctd-
ton.
BY DIR. PERRY, M. LICHTEN-
STEIN
The Hon. Harry P. Anslinger,
head Of the Federal Narcotic
Bureau, is to be congratulated.
He is accomplishing wonders,
particularly when one considers
the limited staff-250 in the en-
tire country-and the limited
means at his disposal.
The raids just conducted are a
direct answer to those who have
advocated repeal Of the Federal
Harrison Act
Potential Criminals
It is surprising to note how
many of our reputable citizens
believe that the Importance of
addiction is exaggerated. Those
who have had actual contact with
the addiction problem know that
the addiction disease is reSpon-
Sible for such crime.
Every addict, be he rich or
poor, is a potential criminal.
A doctor who rescri b e S
morphine, as such, for addiction,
while the patient is walking
about, is not a reputable citizen.
He differs in no way from the
dope peddler.
The raids disclosed that in
Cleveland high school boys and
girls were being made victims Of
the curse. Yet. in spite of this
proof, I dare say, many Of our
So-called criminologists will state
the situation is exaggerated.
We must face the situation that
exists in this country.
Refuses to Act
For many years this country
has led the fight against dope.
Many nations have signed a pact
to limit the growth and manufac-
ture of narcotics to their actual
medicinal needs.
Such an act, however, is a tragic
farce, for the one nation best able
to put a stop to this pernicious
business is Japan, and she refuses
to join in the pact.
The Japanese control Manchu-
kuo. Jehol Province is the rich
est opium-producing section in all
the world. China and Europe are
being flooded with opium from
this province. Much of the opium
smugled into this country is grown
in Jehol.
It is time for us to devote our
attention to the problem in the
United States. 1t has been ad-
vocated that clinics be established
in various cities where addicts
could receive treatment. This
would prove a serious mistake.
Time and again such clinics have
been established, only to prove
failures.
You cannot decrease addiction,
much less accomplish a cure Of
addiction, by ambulatory treat.
Inent and by depending on the
addict to reduce himself.
Give an addict dope and he will
make other addicts.
Have New Yorkers forgotten our
own farcical clinics?
The addict would get his dope
and openly administer it on the
streets with young boys and girls
looking on.
The Government is establishing
narcotics farms for treatment OF
addicts. We should have in every
large city an addiction hospital
for non-criminal addicts. We
should have a rehabilitation insti-
tuition connected with such hos
pitals for after-care and treat
ment. We should create a system
Of parole for those finally re-
leased.
Under this system, those re-
leased from the rehabilitation
institute would report twice
monthly for observation. If re-
addicted, they would be asked
again to take treatment. II they
refused, we should have the power
to force them to take treatment.
You never will decrease crime
by sending addicts to jail because
they are addictS.
They are sick people. They
should be treated as such. Send
ing them to prison makes GRIM
inalS of them and does not cure
their addiction, for, in prison, the
dope ring sees to it that they re.
main addicts. Let us do some.
thing to clear up this addiction
problem.
Let Us Give Aid
Let us clear up the Marihuanna
situation. Amend the Harrison
act to include this drug. This
pernicious weed is a Stimulant to
assault. Let us give Mr.. AnSlinger
more men and money to carry on.
If this is impossible. then let all
the law-enforcing agencies act in
concert with the Federal authorl-
ties.
The district attorney of New
York county is willing. The city's
police department at all times has
cooperated.
Let us instruct the adolescent
boy and girl about the evils of ad-
diction.