ILLEGAL DRUGS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1930, Page 2

ILLEGAL DRUGS

USED BY X.Z.. NURSES

'"By Telegraph, l ei A’resa Ai,uuciation.J

GISBORNE, June 27

A somewhat unusual case came before Mr Harper, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when a middleaged nurse (whose name was ordered to be suppressed), was charged with having in her possession on two separate dates dangerous drugs, contrary to the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Senior-Sergeant Wade said the defendant was employed at a private hospital. The sisteivin-charge had given notice, and the defendant had agreed to stop on for another week, but, as she felt herself slipping physically, she had resorted to the drug named. After leaving the private hospital, she became ill with neuralgia and she was removed to the Cook Public Hospital, where one lot of drugs was 'found among her effects, and the other lot arrived for her. Defendant’s sister was ill, and was being supplied with the drug under a doctor’s orders. The defendant was helping to support he sister and her sister’s children and it was to keep herself on her feet that she took the drug. She, said that she had now overcome the craving.

The Senior Sergeant, continuing, said that he was told that practically every nurse in New Zealand carries supplies of this drug, though it is an offence to do so. He did not suggest that all the nurses were addicts.

To the Magistrate, the defendant said that she had been suffering from a serious illness, and she couldn’t carry on her work without the drug. The Magistrate warned tlie defendant of the seriousness of the habit, but (laid he thought the ease was a sufficient warning. He did not think under the circumstances that any penalty was necessary or desirable and the defendant would he convicted and discharged.