DRUG SLAVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 April 1925, Page 3

DRUG SLAVES

TRICKS IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Special to “Star.”) i_ _ / CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. There are victims of the drug habit in Christchurch in its various forms but their number is relatively small compared with the population Cooperation between chqjnists and doctors militates against the widespread ramifications of an insidious practice, but the burden of responsibility rests on the chemists. ,« . . A “Sun” man’s investigations in this 'direction showed that the chemists oi Christchurch place every obstacle m the way of the drug taker. Drug victims lack anything but resource. “The better class of chemist won t bother with such people as drug addicts,” ‘said one chemist, ‘'but you must remember that it is a big temptation for an unscrupulous cnemist to have comparatively large sums offered for a .grain of some particular drug. We have to account for our supplies of opium. Our books are examined every six months. Speaking candidly, if I were not a chemist, I don t know where I could get opium if I wanted it. With opium there can be no abuse under the present system. The only abuse could come by smuggling the stuff in. There is no other stuff, barring alcohol, which is accounted for in • this country, so well as opium.” A Hindu from a boat at Lyttelton called at a chemist’s shop in Christchurch not long ago, and without any apologies asked for cocaine. He was desperately anxious to have his needs supplied. lie bared his arm and show, ed the flesh pitted with the-marks of

the hypodermic syringe. His; appeal met with no response, though he offered a big sum for a grain. He cried like a child. One of the most insistent drug victims known to the chemists of Christchurch was an ex-chemist/»who made a habit of presenting bogus prescriptions shrewdly prepared, and duly signed by a medico. He tried in one instance to convince a chemist that the signature was that of a AVest Coast doctoi, but the chemist was suspicious and would not take thje chance. This man, , whose forearm was also pitted, had become so undermined' in health that lie was in the derelict stage. He adopted var. ious ruses to obtain his drug, cocaine. 'One day he might try a prescription for ointment, containing the drag. A in. glycoi’in©, for instance, would. ie taken quite readily; then he resqrtid to eyedrops, cough mixture and a *etertna|ry medicine, all yielding a certain drug content. Most of the chemists knew him and he found the going hard, though he met with success at times on his own admission. He was taken care of by the State which is seeking to rehabilitate him. Information which was received, that seafaring men frequently offered cocaine and opium to barmen in Lyttelton hotels, in retuni for whisky, was investigated. Though plenty of evidence could be collected that all kinds of things likely to be carried as cargo were offered for sale, and in exchange for liquor, no admission regarding drags could be obtained. The suggestion made that- a certain institution in Christchurch was being used solely for the treatment of drug addicts, was brought under the notice of Dr Telford/ Medical Officer of Health. His inquiries showed that everything was above board at the institution, where several badly affected, drug takers had been given medical attention.