Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-05


Recognize chronic morphine
poisoning as a disease
Put every man, woman and child
who is a victim Of this disease on
daily minimum ration OF NOR
phine until science has discovered
cure or a substitute that works.
Place the entire administration
Of these rations in the hands of
the Federal Government.
! have been accused Of advo-
eating a wholesale and promiscu-
otis distribution of morphine to
anybody and everybody who
asked for IT, This is ridiculous.
The problem calls for careful adj
ministration, a check-up by So
cial service on the history of
every addict and a hearing to de-
termine whether he is capable of
being given a weeks ration of
morphine at time to take home.
am firmly convinced that the
great majority of addicts could be
trusted from the start 10 treat
themselves, once they were sure
Of a continued supply and the
constant fear of getting in a
jam" was removed.
They could keep at their jobs
and living with their families like
the rest OF us. But what about
those with long criminal records
or who for other reasons could
not be trusted
The answer here would be TO
establish farm colonies with a
minimum amount OF restraint.
where these unfortunates could
be put 10 useful work They
could build their own barracks
and easily earn their keep plus
the thirty cents a day required
for the morphine ration For
that's all the drug would cost if
bought wholesale through legal
channels thirty cents a day!
In time, even many Of these
cases could be made self-support-
ing and self-respecting citizens.
It is up to the voters, l believe.
10 repeal the Harrison Act just
as the Volstead Act was repealed.
and substitute for il a humane,
intelligent law establishing such
Government control
Do that and you wipe out the
dope racket overnight.
COME tip4e age A man called at
- my Office He was a middle
aged Swedish merchant in this
country on business lie had seen
my telephone listing American
Narcotic Defense association
and had come in
This man brought with him a
bottle almost empty with the
label OF a Swedish pharmacist.
He explained in his careful uni
versity English that he was a
suffered from chronic morphine
poisoning
Back home in Sweden he was
registered at a government clinic
and could get his prescription
refilled every week. He kept
himself down TO a minimum dose
and had had no trouble for many
years had raised a family and
built up prosperous business.
But he had been detained in the
United States longer than he had
expected He needed his pres
eruption rehlled. Could l help
him2
I felt a hot flush Of shame
creep up over my collar.
on the wall of my office there
is framed a little silk American
flag which my mother gave me,
when | sailed for France in 1915.
l carried 1T all during my service
days Now it was up 70 me TO
tell this quiet cultured visitor
from abroad that under that flag
his illness was considered crime
ttff-5ttt no rfUUtuT CrrTtTti tTCfp MINI,
that no druggist would dare sell
nm single morphine tablet.
l had TO tell him that only our
3 syasf4l < t4t.e', ot1r T5CKCtccrS. or the
great barons Of our underworld
could help him But the tribute he
would pay them would be enor-
nous. If he refused ne would
either have 70 kill himself or suf-
fer the torments Of morphine
withdrawal which might mean
death in the end.
The Swedish gentleman would
not believe me at first lie cited
the progress America has made
in medical research the splendid
campaign Of Dr. PArraH To stamp
out syphilis.
When finally he grasped the
truth that he could get no NOR
phine all the color drained from