 |
Sign the
Resolution |
General Histories | Ancient History | 1800-1850 | 1860
| 1870 | 1880
| 1890 |
|
The New York Times May 3, 1923
WASHINGTON, May 2.--- The spread of drug addiction in New York City formed a large part
of the discussion at the opening meeting today of the National Anti-Narcotic Conference.
James A. Hamilton, Secretary of State of New York and formerly Commissioner of Charities
and Corrections, said he was convinced that the use of drugs was constantly increasing in
the metropolis; Carlton Simon, Special Deputy Police Commissioner, said the problem
required immediate attention, and Dr. Edward S. Cowles, medical director of the National
Association for the Advancement of Scientific Healing, described the task before the New
York City authorities.
This evening a propaganda film, "The Greatest Menace," was shown to the
delegates, and a reception was given to Mrs. Dorothy Davenport Reid, widow of Wallace
Reid, the motion picture star, whose death was said to have been due to the use if drugs.
Mrs. Reid said she had come from California to cooperate with the organization.
"If my efforts will aid in any way to awaken the public conscience to the peril now
knocking at the door and already within, then I shall consider my life effort a
success," she added.
Jules Jusserand, the French Ambassador, told the delegates this afternoon that France
would be glad to aid in trying to suppress the drug traffic, and indeed had undertaken
steps in this direction as long as six years ago.
Mr. Hamilton said that during his five years as head of the Department of Correction he
studied more than 10,000 drug addicts committed to Riker's Island for treatment.
"There is no question in my mind," he declared, "that drug addiction is on
the increase in the larger centres of population in this country, as well as others. I
know this to be true in New York City. What is most important is that the drug addicts are
generally between the ages of 20 and 25 years, which means that the use of habit-forming
drugs is sapping our young manhood and womanhood, for many of the drug addicts are young
women.
"How are we going to fight this drug addiction? We know that it exists and, what is
more important, we know that it is on the increase. Something must be done. I believe that
the only way that we can ever successfully fight this latest of vices is through some sort
of agreement, with all nations participating, which would bring about the control of the
situation from its very start. By that I mean that only sufficient opium, cocaine and
other drugs be produced through growth and manufacture to meet the really legitimate
requirements of the medical world."
Referring to the work being done in New York City toward reclaiming drug addicts, Mr.
Hamilton said that about 52 per cent. of those treated at Riker's Island were
"cured," leaving 48 per cent. who return sooner or later and generally because
of environment. He declared that out of 2,187 drug addicts who came under his observation
in New York City in 1921 approximately 10 per cent. were women.
Striking at the source of supply of drugs even though it affected their legitimate use,
would be necessary in the solution of the problem, Mr. Simon told the delegates. He
advised institutional care for addicts.
"In a police department such as we have in the city of New York," said Mr.
Simon, "which has protective supervision over 6,000,000 of people and a floating
population of another million and with a kaleidoscopic foreign element representing about
39 per cent. of its total population, we are forced to the necessity of immediate action
and practical activity instead of more theoretical musings and protracted discussions. For
that reason it is my belief that an interchange of thought based purely upon practical
control of the situation which is confronting the American people is a most valuable
salutory and commendable step.
"We in the Police Department of the City of New York are solving the question largely
for the entire country, at least as to the police aspect, by the establishment of the only
clearing house on narcotic drug addiction in the world, co-operating effectually with all
nations and with 700 cities in the United States and the principal seaports of the world.
In doing this we have collected data, fingerprints, photographs and records and a
tremendous mass of information, some of which is of immediate benefit and some of great
promise for the future.
"It is our opinion, based upon exact statistics, that the narcotic question has
ceased to be a medical one and that it is an underworld problem. There can be no question
that there are borderline cases, whose lack of frequency, however, does not deter the
police from handling the great preponderance of narcotic addicts springing from
vice."
Secretary Hughes announced today the personnel of the American delegation to the
International Opium Conference which will convene in Geneva on May 24. The American
delegates, who will sail on May 12, are Representative Stephen G. Porter, Dr. Rupert Blue,
former Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, and Bishop Charles E. Brent of New
York, Edwin L. Neville of the Far Eastern Division of the State Department and
Representative of Secretary Hughes on the Federal Narcotic Control Board, will accompany
the delegation in an advisory capacity.
The delegates will follow closely the policy outlined in the Porter resolution, which demanded an international convention governing the production and distribution of narcotics. They will be prepared to co operate in every way possible with the conference, although it is essentially a meeting of a committee of the League of Nations, operating under the direction of the League.
While the official announcement that the American delegation would participate merely
in a "consultive" capacity, it is known that the American Government has a
definite program for an international convention governing traffic in narcotics and will
be prepared to submit its ideas to the conference in detail.