The cities are fighting back. Most of them are doing something about drugs,some of it badly,much in panic and all latr. But they are moving-because then are scared. And they have every reason to be,for shat they face is a real jorror. A top New York City official despairs,"Two thirds of our problems come directly from drug abuse,and I see no hope of handing that problem. "New York's grief is no differnt from any other big town's only the number are larger. Drug abuse in our cities is epidemic,and we haven't even kept count of the victims.
New York drug experts still talk about 100,000 heroin addicts,man estimate they reach by doubling the number registerd with the police,hospitals,and city social agencies. Figuring,as the city's deputy medical examiner does,that the addict population is 200 times the annual toll of oveedose deaths,New York has about 150000 junkies.