YOUTHFUL DRUG FIEND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18174, 21 August 1922, Page 5

YOUTHFUL DRUG FIEND.

HEAVY DOSES DAILY. COMMITTED TO ROTO ROA." A young man named George Edward Barker appeared at the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Friday on a charge of drunkenness. Sub-Inspector McNamara explained that the accused* although only about 19 years of age, was a drunkard and a helpless drug fiend. He was in the habit of drinking to excess and taking each day an abnormal amount of a certain drug. The quantity which he took «>n each occasion, continued the sub-inspec-tor, was almost enough to put the whole Court to sleep. On one occasion he had drifted into such a state of stupor that ho had fallen into the harbour. In the interests of the young man, the subinspector therefore asked that he be committed to Roto Roa, Constable* Cleverly, who on one occasion had been obliged to rescue the accused from the harbour, stated that at the time of the occurrences he hSd been in an advanced state of stupor. He had, however, admitted being, in t''C habit of taking a bottle a day of tho drug in question. . Constable Baker deposed to having interviewed the accused while the latter was in the hospital. The young man had then stated that he was accustomed to drinking about 14s worth of this drug a week. He had acquired the habit from an older man with whom he had at one time worked. He was a sea cook by occupation. Medical evidence ha-d indicated that accused was suffering from the effects of drugs. In accordance with the suggestion of the sub-inspector, Barker was committed to Roto Roa for a, period of 12 months.