H is for joy; Sociological analysis, part 2

The following program is produced as a public service feature by the radio division of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. With cooperation from the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and the Illinois division of narcotic control. We present news H is for joy. Sure. Oh. The past two programs have ages for joy I have considered a sociological analysis of a serious social problem drug addiction. We've said that alcohol and barbiturates as well as narcotics like heroin codeine and morphine have been found to possess addicting properties and with addiction to barbiturates withdrawal from the drug is an extremely complex and

difficult process. Also we should remind ourselves of a fact that has long been neglected. The United States has socially accepted and approved the use of alcohol and barbiturates or sleeping pills. Their use is now a familiar thing and by themselves are not necessarily harmful. The danger to our society lies in the misuse of these drugs and in the social acceptance of this misuse. Therefore the threat to the peoples of America does not come from the comparatively few who are addicted to drugs but from the danger of our accepting this addiction as a part of our so-called American way of life. Might we use the analogy that if we continue to view the alcoholic as some sort of a comic character to enjoy laughing at we may in time realize that we have a number of would be comics who are learning the role of the alcoholic. But this is a question so vast in its implications that accurate sociological methods of study may not be of

much help. So the overall problem of drug addiction may well include barbiturates and alcoholic diction within its definition. But let's return to the specialized group with which we are concerned. Those physically and emotionally addicted to narcotics. One question that is constantly asked of authorities on drug addiction is how is crime related to drug addiction. The question assumes there is a relationship and we've never found any who would deny it. However the quality and degree of the relationship varies with the individual case considered. We ask Solomon co-brand of the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research about this relationship and he told us it's quite commonly known and generally recognized that once the person becomes addicted he's forced to resort to crime to get the money to maintain his supply of drugs. The notion that. An addiction is

necessarily linked with crime stems from the fact of the of the situation in our own studies of the problem. We have found substantially is then that young people as young people who become involved in drug use by and large are also drawn from the same group which tends to become involved in delinquency so that it becomes a nice question as to which comes first here which is the chicken which is the egg. The two do seem to go hand in hand although it is just no question that after an addiction has been established the person regardless of what his disposition might be to give up crime the person is virtually forced to continue in crime in order to maintain his drug supply. Perhaps you wonder what type of crime an addict commits generally as you heard his crime centers about the fact of his addiction. He needs drugs he's

addicted but finding the drugs is a time consuming operation. He isn't able to work regular hours his day is spent searching hunting. If he can't work he earns no money to support his habit. But yes he might need 15 30 or even $80 a day. How does he get it. What does he do. We ask an addict to answer that question for us. And he replied The majority of you and they I mean their pay packet is paid but it is one of those you get a new crop coming up without a carload or you know they can and it takes a can opener. You know when you have you got anything you need and then you get another. True true. So let's read. I mean is more widespread now than it was when I was given

up to tap there was a coalition provide that it was more scientific. He opened it without breaking eggs you know. Los Angeles Texas he was the best that it was to me a boy I would which is perpetual motion and he was continually on the move. He was one of those fellows that knew the art of merging with the sitting with the back with the rest of them to play and stand there silently. Most crucially they say you know what you would see him and when you see him he would just melt right into the background and for that split second that you turn around he was in that cash register got

a big portion of my raise that they haven't got the big money and closed it back and back in the position he was in or if not on it we had just gone. Right he was really good. I worked with him had occasion to work with him and nineteen thirty eight and we took all four record store jobs as I did have a little knowledge of classical music. It was to go in and get the bride to engage with clergy and gays and Guy was Asian Oh music to take his attention off his register and get him you know counter from the register and threw us a three minute want it off that money and go and they had about 340 in the register as we called it was about the right to have a day

in the evening you know. And this particular day was during the Christmas week and it was just three days before Christmas. People were you know spending money he Dan and all that rubbish that only he did so silently. Now I was knew what to listen for. And actually I heard it as he closed the register. I heard at the click you know I heard it. The proprietor didn't hear you know HE WAS ALL IN THE MONEY. Think about this when you state in any cost big man stick man around when you stick to her temple is to know how to get out of the store so you know for whom to be aroused you know. So which require Now you noticed in a store the big bill as they

raised the little they got a little back there in the end they read it over but the Big Bill was there so you got to be careful not to break a big bill no bill that would require him putting it up under there and where he could go into the race to get change. That's on your way out. A fad or teen is often tempted to change it right in the tap but it's not wise to chance a teen because although Daddy put it all about. So you usually try to pay for your purchase with a $1 bill and be sure to let the man see that you've got some money and that he has an event that he was thinking he do Mrs. money and would like to hold you as an accomplice. You can say that you came in to make a purchase and you were talking about the purchase and you did have the money to pay for the purchase and then a camera will hold. Boosters are generally shoplifters that specialize in small items that are carried inside

a coat folded over their arms. Remember the car looter we mentioned one on an earlier program. It was decimated that he stole or looted at least 12 cars a day to maintain his habit among the criminal acts mentioned by the addict none were of a violent nature. That is none were concerned. As aggressive crime is directed toward the person of an individual. They were crimes that called for clear thinking. Stealth and cleverness on the part of the person committing them the few criminal offenses just mentioned are not all the types of crime an addict might commit. Usually when a crime is reported the criminal is sought found and convicted. We were interested in learning if the addict we interviewed had ever been caught and convicted for any crime. Well I believe the big issue was that did 21 looks a stage with you guys. Yeah yeah sure AJ. So beyond his miserable existence as an addict he has added insult to

injury of his life. What of crime and addiction. Which comes first the crime or the addiction. To begin we take the case of the non criminal who becomes an addict once addicted unless he's wealthy he will turn to crime to support his habit. Another individual may be a criminal prior to his addiction but once addicted he will probably go deeper into criminality. So we're still left with a question which came first the chicken or the egg. The answer can only be found as each individual addict's personal history is investigated and evaluated. However we'd like to say that in one sense crime always does produce addiction. By this we mean the illegal sale of drugs to any individual. Those groups that have social and economic ties with the underworld so that they may make a profit from the illegal smuggling of narcotics are criminals doing criminal acts and in turn creating new criminals who are drug addicts. While we tend to blame the addict for his own inhuman condition

those who supply the drugs illegally sit ignored in their protected mansions. At the end of winding tree covered lanes. These are people such as those who gathered together in New York State not long ago. It's been said that this gathering of the criminal clan had as one of its main topics the subject of smuggling especially narcotics. It seems that the question at hand was whether or not to continue the international operation because the profits weren't what they used to be. The heat was on Treasury men and local agencies had been effective. And now the cost of smuggling began to cut too deeply into the profits and even those at the top even those whose immoral minds had created a living hell for thousands now addicted even days at last begun to learn that H is not for joy. A sociological analysis of drug addiction a topic hard to understand but worth the effort. We've talked of many things the addict his background

his values in relation to crime. But one thing stood out to us. It seems that the basic reason anybody turns to drugs is simply to escape from the reality of his own life to face this reality would show extreme courage indeed. But one fact remains. Any attempt to escape the realism of a personal problem does not eliminate that problem but only serves to complicate it. Reality must be faced squarely. Then perhaps in some way the fear it projects to us may be overcome. And at last we may learn to act as we were meant to and. To go as we were meant to go to be what we were meant to be. Next time narcotic addiction. And the law.

On h is for joy. As transcribed program was written by a divine at hand produced by below birth. This is Ted Seeley speaking. The preceding program was made available to this station by the National Association of educational broadcasters. This is the end E.B. Radio Network.