HAZARD OF THE INJECTION SYRINGE

Abstract

To the Editor: I should like to invite the opinion of pediatricians throughout the country concerning the hazard of dispensing used injection syringes to children. I note that the Narcotics Bureau has even sent a letter to physicians which suggests that this is a legal offense. In trying to keep things in perspective, I would say that such a rule is the tail wagging the dog. In discussing this with a past narcotics addict, who has since had a Christian conversion, she tells me that syringes are usually obtained through hospital sources. In the absence of a syringe addicts usually use medicine droppers attached to needles. They are more likely to go after a needle than after a syringe. It was her opinion that the dispensing of syringes to children would in no way affect the increase in the number of addicts. As a matter of fact, she agreed this