Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-18
Alexandra Doctor
Called Drug Source
Probe Reveals
Where Youths
Obtuined Pills
By PAU, HOPE

An Alexandria physician re-
ferred to in a Congressional
narcotics inquiry last year was
revealed today as the supplier Of
barbiturate sleeping pilD pre-
scriptions for a group of Alexan-
dria youths.
According to Alexandria au-
thorities, the doctor prescribes
narcotics and barbiturateS be-
cause he feels it is his duty to
relieve addicts when they come
TO him.
A police official said the doc
tor gave prescriptions to five
youths who were arrested Mon
day night on charges of illegally
distributing barbiturates. The ar.
rests followed a three-month un-
dercover investigation Of illegal
traffic in sleeping pills among
the youth of Alexandria.
Police said a group of youths,
who are teen-agers or in their
early EOS, were given prescrip-
lions regularly by the doctor.
They used the pills for cheap
DRINKS" police said.
Believed Drug Source
In testimony before the Con.
greSSional hearing, the doctor.
who was not mentioned by name,
was said to be a supplier of mar
cotics prescriptions for Washing
ton dope addicts.
A spokesman in the Alexan-
dria Commonwealth attorneys
office said the doctor has been a
source of trouble to police for
years. Dozens Of prescriptions
issued by the doctor have turned
up on dope addictS arrested in
the city. Many of the addicts are
from Washington and are picked
up for giving false addresses on
their prescriptions.
The doctor, who is prominent
in Virginia medical circles, was
called before an Alexandria
grand jury about three years ago
for his laxity in dispensing
prescriptions. the police official
said. AS result of police testi-
mony, the grand jury recon-
mended stricter Virginia laws on
dispensing narcotics and
barbiturates.
The official said the doctor has
been lax in giving prescriptions
Tor years, but during the last
five years the practice has be-
come very noticeable"
Vulernable to Pleas
The official said:
He feels that, as a physician.
he has some rights to grant relief
to people burdened with physical
or mental ills or with the mar
coticS habit. He feels it is his
duty to prescribe narcotics to
relieve pain. He doesn't do it
for the money in it, and in fact.
we know of cases in which he
has given prescriptions free. The
addicts have passed the word
along and he has become vulner-
able to their pleas"
He has not been prosecuted
because of the difficulty in maxi
ing a case stick. the official said.
He said that, because of the
doctors standing and influence
in the community and the State.
it would be foolish" to take
him into court without an "air.
tight case"
I'VE have to prove that he
gives prescriptions without max
ing an examination, and he could
claim he gave an examination
even If the addict just told him
he had a pain" the official said.
The official said the supplying
OF barbiturates to youths is par
ticularly distasteful. HE knows
police are watching him and he
seems to have a contempt of
law enforcement officials because
they are trying to interfere with
him." he said.
The official said that, APP
parently, the medical societies
have never received an Official
complaint naming the doctor
specifically" He said that many
other doctors are aware of the
situation but choose to ignore
it,"