DANGEROUS DRUG TAKEN BY NURSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 29 (Supplement)

DANGEROUS DRUG TAKEN BY NURSE.

UNUSUAL CHARGE IS HEARD BY MAGISTRATE. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, June 27. An unusual case came before Mr P. 11. Harper, S.M, at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when a middle-aged nurse in a private hospital, whose name was ordered to be suppressed, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act: (1) With having in her possession on June 1 three tablets of a dangerous drug, and (2) with having on June 7 twelve tablets of the same drug. Senior-Sergeant Wade said the defendant was employed at a private hospital. The sister in charge was sick, and defendant, who had given notice, wa* asked to remain on for a week. She felt she was slipping physically, and couldn’t keep up with the work, so resorted to a drug. She stayed her allotted time, but later became ill with neuralgia, and was taken to the Cook Public Hospital. Among her belongings were three tablets of the drug, and while in the institution another twelve arrived for her. The police made inquiries, continued the senior-sergeant, in the belief that there was possibly, a depot in New Zealand supplying people with drugs, but he could say now that that was not the case. Defendant’s sister was suffering from a disease, and was being supplied with this particular drug under doctor’s prescription, and had been sending some of the drug to defendant. The defendant was helping to support her sister, and her sister’s children, and knew that considerable hardship would be caused if she lost her employment. It was to keep herself on her feet that she took the drug, and she has now assured him (the senior-ser-geant) that she had overcome the craving for it. “I am told,” continued the seniorsergeant, “that practically every nurse in New Zealand carries supplies of this drug, though it is an offence to do so, and no exemptions are made. Of course, they are not all addicted to it, but if the effects of the majority of nurses, particularly those attending outside cases, were searched I have no doubt bigger supplies of the drug would be found than those defendant had in her possession. The drug can only be supplied under doctor’s prescription. The legislature evidently regards this as a serious offence, for the maximum penalty is £100.” To the Magistrate defendant explained that she had been suffering from a very serious illness which ended in complications, and she would have been unable to carry on her work if she had not taken the drug. This is regarded as a very serious offence,” said the Magistrate, “and the habit is a pernicious and an injurious one. You must have known that the relief afforded, if relief it is, is only temporary, and that the more you take of it the less chance you have of breaking yourself of the habit. At the same time I am sure this will be sufficient warning to you, and that you won’t indulge in the habit again. There is some excuse for you in that you took it to give yourself the required energy. I don t think this is a case where a penalty is necessary or desirable, and you will be convicted and discharged.*"