Page:The narcotic drug problem (IA narcoticdrugpro00bish).pdf/91

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NARCOTIC DRUG ADDICTION-DISEASE
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tions and underlying principles of narcotic drug addiction-disease and of its rational handling in the individual case, our results have been good or bad."

Several years ago I wrote as follows: "As to the existing opinion that the morphinist does not want to be cured and that while under treatment he cannot be trusted and will not cooperate but will secretly secure and use his drug, I can only quote from personal experience with these cases. During my early attempts, my patients, beginning with the best intentions in the world, often tried to beg, steal or get in any possible way, the drug of their addiction.

Like others I placed the blame upon their supposed weakness of will and lack of determination to get rid of their malady. Later I realized the fact that the blame rested entirely upon the shoulders of my medical inefficiency and my lack of understanding and ability to observe and interpret my patient's condition. The morphinist as a rule will cooperate and will suffer to the limit of his endurance. Demanding cooperation of a case of morphinism during and following incompetent withdrawal of the drug is much like asking a man to cooperate for an indefinite period in his own torture. There is a limit to every one's power of endurance of suffering."

Of primary importance, then, if a physician, institutional or practitioner, is to have any success in handling a case of opiate addiction-disease, is his attitude towards his patient—divesting himself of all conception of habit, appetite or vice as explanation of characteristic physical manifestations and symptomatology, and approaching the patient as a man with a definite disease requiring and deserving intelligent clinical handling. The patient will be the very first to mark a physician's shortcomings. If he has not confidence in the doctor's ability and understanding of his illness the doctor can help him but little. This statement applies not to addiction-disease alone but to every medical condition.