Show DAILY HEALTH SERVICE I. I DRUG ADDICTS PRESENT 1 J BIG IG MEDICAL PROBLEM J j y- y 0 BY DR MORRiS FISHBEIN Editor Journal of the American Medical Association and of Hygeia Hygeia Hy- Hy geia the health Magazine rh pitiable ts in tie the field ot of human aliments ailments are those persons who ha vo found unable to live satisfactorily without without with with- out the constant use ot of narcotic dru drugs s. s Their minds are so dis V that they ther sometimes resort to almost apy measure to obtain the Ule substance subs to they are arc addicted The committee on drug addiction addle addle- tion established In New Kew York Ci City y has been carrying out studies In various Institutions with a vIeW to finding ways and means for freeing such Of the demand for the drug THE ADDICTS ADDICT'S BEHAVIOR One ot of the tho first studies involved a consideration of the conduct or of orthe the addict and his revealed Inter Inter- sting eating Information as to the means that tad had been used to secure the drug whIle the tho patient was under observation Uon in the hospital Drugs were found concealed Inthe in inthe the soiled dressings covering wounds In clothing letters and jewelry and andIn andin in all of the of the body Letters which were received by addicts were e found to be written on paper prevIously a WIth WItha a solution of the drug and then dried and Ironed out before being written on The addict extracted the drug by chewing the paper Drugs were found concealed under the stamps on envelopes In the hollowed hol hol- lowed out stem of a watch and in similar r places ot of concealment The withdrawal with with- symptoms s following ot of a drug from an addict are usually quite severe They In- In elude dudo pain difficulty In breathing and in sleepIng sleepIng sleep sleep- Ing and great mental depression 0 Is swallowIng grape pits harmful t. o PeoPle chew up the pits or swallow the entire pulp or of rapes when eating them without my harm The human Intestines tre Lre able to get rId of a good deal f rather course materiaL without injury in the majority of ases b The Tho height ot of the withdrawal symptoms symptoms toms Is reached between 48 and 72 hours following the last dose ot of the drug taken REHABILITATION One ot of the results ot of the extensive exten- exten sive studies made In Philadelphia was the revelation of the fact that drug addiction does pot not produce Inmost in inmost most Instances permanent physical and mental changes and that it Is possible to the addict Successfully If IC he can once be re- re eved ot of his craving This fact has given the greatest ement to the physicians and anif ha has stimulated r efforts ill In the search for some specific method ot of nt |