City of Boston Prepares to Open Free Drug Identification Centers

Freaks who suspect that they have been sold "bad trip" acid will soon be able to submit a sample of their purchase to a laboratory for a free analysis-courtesy of the city of Boston.

The city will open 24 drug identification centers next month as part of "Operation Turn Off" -a new anti drug campaign announced by Mayor Kevin H. White March 2. The centers will supply chemical analyses of drugs submitted to them-and the police have agreed not to harass those using the centers. James M. Breay, head of the drug campaign, said yesterday.

Users Anonymous

The centers will supply numbered envelopes for drug samples. Those submitting the samples will rip off a numbered stub from the envelope. The centers will not ask for names.

The samples will then be sent to a private laboratory for analyses. Results will be available from the "Turn Off telephone service" -a 24-hour drug counseling service which will operate from the psychiatric ward of Boston City Hospital.

Those seeking results will identify themselves only by number. They will be told the findings of the laboratory and given information on the medical uses and possible dangers of the drug.

Callers will also be given numbers to call for counselling and another number to use if they wish to give information to the police.

Breay said that the police have agreed not to attempt to arrest those using the centers. "They're pretty pragmatic," he said. "They're much more interested in hunting down pushers than in arresting drug users."

"The minute we find a sample with strychnine in it, we will get word to every rock station. every college radio station and every college newspaper in the city and tell them that there's poison around. If people want to take it after that, it's their choice."