COCAINE PARTIES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11762, 24 February 1919, Page 2

COCAINE PARTIES.

EVILS OF THE WEST END. Cocaine parties have long been a feature of the life followed cy certain sections of professional classes in the West End of London, They existed before the war, and notwithstanding legislative restrictions, they will flourish. Before the war drugs were cheap and easily obtainable. Two years ago, however, a regulation was passed under the Defence of the Realm Act restricting the sale of cocaine and other drugs to doctors, dentists, and chemists, and anyone dealing illicitly in drugs or even possessing them is now liable to a fine of £IOO in addition to six months’ imprisonment. As one authority said, ‘‘You can get anything for money;” hence it is that cocaine parties are still given. K Among doctors, dentists, and chemists are a few of the unscrupulous who are always willing to risk heavy penalties by felling ;2s worth of cocaine snuff for £5 or £lO or more. There are houses and flats in the West End where men and women —barristers, politicians, actresses, music hall artists, J|aud others—meet for a dose of cocaine, and a night of revelry. The police are alert, out the difficulties of taking effective action are great. Whenever possible proceedings are taken. In one recent case £a man had no fewer than 30 packets of cocaine snuff concealed in a belt round his body. He would probably have sold them for anything from £2OO to £3OO.