COCAINE PARTIES.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 February 1919, Page 5

COCAINE PARTIES.

EVILS OF THE WEST END. Cocaine parties, have long been a feature of the life followed by certain sections of professional classes in the West End of London. They existed before the war, and, notwithstanding Sagiass-tsvo rflßt.rict.3onß, they dtill, flourish. Before the war drugs were cheap and easily obtainable. Two years ago, however ,a regulation was passed under the Defence of the Realm , Act %he ml® fof cocaine' and other drugs to doctors, denltists, and "hemilsts, and anyone dealing illicitly in drugs or even possessing them is now liable to a fine of £IOO in (addition to six months' imprisonment. As one authority said, "You can get anything for money"; hence it is that cocaine parties are still given.

Among doctors, dentists, and chemists are -a few of the unscrupulous ■who are (always willing to risk heavy penalties by selling 2s worth of cocaine snuff for £5 or £lO or more. There are houses and flats in the West End where men and women—barristers, politicians, actresses, m,usic-hiall Artiste and others—meet for a dose of cocaine, and a night of revelry. The police are alert, but the difficulties of taking -effective action are great. Whenever possible proceedings are taken. In one recent case a man had no fewer than §0 packets of cocaine concealed in a belt round his body. He would probably have -io.Vl '•hem for anything from £2OO to £3OO .