Evening star., 1943-08-08

A six-point program for an at
tack on the problem of alcoholics
including call for longer sentences
for drunks at the District Work
house and for other efforts at re-
habilitation, was proposed yester-
day by Welfare Director Ray L
Huff.
He outlined his vieWe in a report
to Commissioner Guy M2c51. OH
suggestions of the Washington Fed
Grafton of Churches for legislation
for postwar development of farm
for inebriates, and to permit volun-
tary commitment for those alco-
holics wishing treatment.
Mr.. Huff did not directly object
to these plans but running all
tllro .gh his lengthy report was the
thought that other plans would be
more beneficial and more expedient
than what he deemed to be IAN
experiment" with farm treatment
for inebriates. He added there is
no substantial evidence than vol
untarv commitments to farm for
inebriates would produce the de-
sired results-that necessarily such
a program would have to be expert
mental.
He said he would indorse such
experimental programs if, in COM
petition with other public needs, it
was determined the necessary money
was available, but he took consider
able space to outline other needs
which obviously he deemed more
pressing.
Welfare Directors Program.
Mr.. Huff stressed that he shares
with the Federation of Churches the
wish to improve the Districts con-
troll of the problems of alcoholics.
reported that some 1900 persons re-
ceived treatment for alcoholism in
some form last year at Gallinger
Hospital and he added the usual"
number admitted to the jail for
this cause is about 5000 year. How
extensive the problem is otherwise,
he said he did not know.
The program of the welfare di-
rector is:
Give maximum" sentences.
Once the short sentence is elm
mated, money should be appropri-
ated for a classification unit at the
workhouse to serve inebriates and
others.
Foster rehabilitative work by the
agencies of the welfare department,
themselves and in collaboration with
private agencies, with the alcoholic
and his family.
Continue Development.
Continue the presently approved
building plan at the workhouse and
reformatory as to housing develop
ments to permit various types of
persons to be placed in various types
of quarters. The cost of completion
of this plan was placed at about
$250,0O0
Recognize that the District Work
house is not characterized by cells
and bars" Mr.. Huff described it as
a large farm with various work ac-
tivities and he said that those sent
there are not abused" but rather
regain health and strength.
Increase facilities in public hos
pitfalls for voluntary admissions when
these will relieve Temporary dis
tress and permit diagnosis when
possible.
In summation, Mr.. Huff said:
"a separate institution for aloo-
holes is contra indicated locally
Facilities at Gallinger Hospital could
be expanded if voluntary admissions
are considered public care; facili-
ties at the Workhouse can be devel-
oped normally for the involuntary
commitment No institution oper-
ating without community services is
likely to improve the situation ma
terially.
eff an experimental project is con-
sidered, it seems prudent to consider
experimentation on a Federal scale.
such as the narcotic farm of the
Public Health Service. Experiment
tation is costly though valuable.
But in view of the long history of
alcoholism, as with prostitution, ex-
Fermentation in this field will prob
ably be very prolonged and not pro-
vide cure. Such evidence as is
now available indicates that the
problem can be solved only with con-
ttnuing personal care and cannot be
solved by vicarious action"
Urges Longer Sentences.
On the question of longer SEN
tenceS for alcoholics, Mr.. Huff said
that in the District the most COM
mon sentences for drunks is about
25 days. He added that sentences
for intoxication may bring some bet
ter results if they are not less than
six months. The short sentence
does no good" he said. He con-
tinued that Informed opinion" was
that the alcoholic needs time to
interrupt his habit that he needs