Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-01-29
BY Jack Jonas
Star Stoff Correspondent

LEXINGTON, KY, Jan. 29.-
The shooting gallery" at the
United States Public Health
Service Hospital was given its
name by the patients.
This is the ward where drug
addicts are taken off the habit,
and the name stems from the
fact that patients still receive
shots of drugs while they are in
this ward.
1t takes about seven days,
sometimes less. sometimes more,
to get a patient to the point
where he is no longer physically
dependent on dope to exist.
The Federal narcotics hospital
uses the more humane sys-
tenn of gradually reducing the
amount of dope needed by a
patient, as opposed to the cold
turkey" and more agonizing,
method of suddenly taking away
all drugs.
When John Smith, a typical
addict. goes into the shooting
gallery. nurses. doctors and at
tendants keep a close watch on
what happens to him. This is
the final test which proves
whether Smith is a dope addict
or is taking. If he is an addict.
definite symptoms develop when
drugs are withheld.
In Physical Trouble.
Usually. when Smith is about
due for a shot. he begins to feel
uncomfortable generally, and
can't sleep we'll. This comes
from 8 to 16 hours after his last
shot.
Later. he begins to yawn, and
perspire. He becomes increas-
ingly i'll, vomits and has diarrhea.
His abdomen. back, legs and
arms begin to ache.
When these symptoms are
well along. Smith gets his first
legal shot of dope. If he has
been on morphine or its deriva-
tives-and most Of them have
this will be methadon, syn
thetic drug.
Methadon was developed by
German scientists under the
Nazis. It's formula remained in
their files during the war. and
was discovered by Allied research
teams after the victory.
DR.. Kenneth w. Chapman.
medical officer in charge of the
hospital. said methadon is SIM
liar to the morphine drugs in
its pain-killing and addiction
properties. The advantage of
this. drug, he said, is that it
produces far milder withdrawal
symptoms.
Injection of the drug gives the
patient relief from his with
drawal symptoms. He begins to
relax almost at once, and be-
comes more comfortable.
Just Enough for Comfort.
The time before his next shot
is longer. and he gets less the
next time. It is never quite
enough to satisfy his craving
for a 'fbang" out of the drug.
but it is enough to make him
comfortable.
During this period the adj
hitting doctor makes two
rounds of the shooting gallery a
day. keeping an eye on Smith
and his progress. In seven days,
Smith no longer needs drugs and
the withdrawal symptoms are
gone.
He now develops the "chuck
habit" Smith becomes raven
ously hungry and is fed every
thing he will eat. with proper
precaution against his over-eat-
ing. He also becomes restless
and wants something to do. The
hospital now sets about the most
important part of his treatment
his rehabilitation.
Deciding what to do next with
Smith takes about three days.
In that time. he is in skid
row"-off the habit and being
oriented to his new life at the
hospital. An important part Of
this is a complete physical ex-
animation.
May Be Seat Of Trouble.
"Cause Of a mans turning to.
drugs may be physical as well as
mental" DR.. Chapman said.
often it can be corrected with