NIGHT CLUBS AND DRUGS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2165, 3 July 1922, Page 5

NIGHT CLUBS AND DRUGS.

LONDON'S SECRET "DOPE" DENS. Night clubs and secret traffic in drugs were referred to in the British House of Commons recently. Sir Charles Highman asked the Home Secretary (Mr Shortt) what steps were to be taken to suppress the undesirable night clubs, where a secret traffic in drugs exists and alcoholic liquor is sold after hours. "Whatever information is obtainable with regard to illegal practices in clubs," was the reply, "whether in contravention of the law relating to the sale of liquor, or the regulations relating to dangerous drugs or otherwise, the police are alert to take action. Convictions have been obtained in two recent cases." Viscount Curzon: Is the right hon. gentleman aware that a certain hon. member of this House is much interested in a certain night club? "No, I am not aware," retorted Mr Shortt, amid cries of "Name." A Chinese doctor, with the high qualifications of a British university, is the specialist to whom the drugtakers, who have learned their habit in the secret "dope" dens, most frequently go for advice and a possible cure. In the course of an interview he admitted that many of his patient* are drug takers. "They are from all classes of people," he said, "and there are women of different ages among them, and business men. Some are of such consequence that I do not ask them their occupation or address. I have had women who were opium smokers, but the majority of drug takers in London are those who 'sniff snow' or inhale cocaine. The worst cases are those who inject morphine. There is a cure for these people, but the best chance would be to place them in a special home under restraint. I have used hypnotic suggestion in the case of some patient* with success. There is undoubtedly at the present time a very large illicit traffic in cocaine in London. I am told that there is so much cocaine in this city that agents have been coming across from Paris and Brussels to purchase it here and smuggle it to their own countries."