Social Implication of Drug Abuse, Afternoon Session

This WNYC mini-series on drugs and society was edited from a day-long symposium titled Social Implication of Drug Abuse, hosted by Henry S. [Entilly], Vice President of Spectrum Laboratories.

The afternoon session begins with Dr. Harvey Gollance, who discusses his research with the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program at Beth Israel Hospital. He provides a brief history of drug rehabilitation programs in New York City and the development of methadone as a treatment, particularly in the work of Dr. Vincent Dole. Dole found that if the dosage is increased rather than decreased, it cancels the effectiveness of heroin. Gollance describes how this work has been continued and expanded at Beth Israel in a voluntary program for heroin addicts over a two-year minimum participation. He concludes by addressing a few questions from the audience.

Frank Natale, Co-director of the Phoenix House Foundation, disagrees with the treatment methods offered by the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program. Natale argues that methadone is still an addictive opiate and therefore is not rehabilitation but "turning people into zombies" for a "quick political solution." This program, as well as incarceration, treats the symptom rather than addressing the cause of drug abuse. Natale describes the approach at Phoenix House to help residents understand why they abuse drugs in a supportive communal living environment at a lower cost per resident than a hospital or prison. He then answers questions from the audience.

The next speaker is Dr. Charles J. Umberger, Director of Toxicology for New York City. He asserts that there is no doubt that there is a drug problem and that drug addicts need to be treated, but how should they be treated? He reviews the two programs currently available: methadone, and what he calls "psychiatric/anti-methadone." He discusses factors that prohibit research such as unreliable methods for acquiring statistics and difficulty in obtaining drugs in appropriate quantities to conduct meaningful tests. He argues that deaths cannot be attributed to toxicity alone, that other factors such as psychosis lead to victims harming themselves, such as suicide, for example.

Dr. Ann Morey, Executive Officer of the Center of the Study of Evaluation at UCLA, talks about drug use on College Campuses. According to Morey, the college campus is the epicenter of the drug scene. Laws have little effect on drug use and research into the effects of certain drugs is retrospective and without appropriate controls. She describes some of the causes and typical behaviors of students who are using drugs. However, she asserts that "no striking and consistent difference exists between students who use drugs and those who do not." Morey has found that students are entering a developmental stage that fosters self-exploration, adventure seeking, social pressure and escape or withdrawal from conventional society. Higher education does not help to facilitate this self-exploration in a way that is intellectual, which might help to curb drug use. Instead of emphasizing punitive measures, higher education must take a humanist approach to all students not just those wrestling with drug abuse.

Jacqueline G. Wexler, President of Hunter College further discusses drug use on college campuses, citing recent demonstrations at her institution. She argues that drug use is a backlash to one single concept of authority. Students must be given the opportunity to agree or disagree with those in a place of power, "We are not afraid of power, we are afraid of hidden power." Wexler advocates for compromise and transparency in higher education, to tackle the causes of social pressure and for politicians to attempt to control pushers like the mafia.

A brief question and answer discussion follows. However, most of the conversation occurs off the microphone and is inaudible. The recording cuts out and then resumes with concluding remarks.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 151031
Municipal archives id: T7618