Misadventures in the Drug Trade

Abstract

Dan Waldorf was a research sociologist who worked in the field of drug use and abuse for 27 years. Most of that time was either in San Francisco or New York City. He wrote two books, three monographs, and 38 articles on the subject–with this being his final article. Fate intervened because this article is autobiographical. Dan's work and his life were intertwined in ways that provided unique insights into drugs and addict lifestyles. The focus of much of his work was “to attack and demolish myths about drug users and heroin addicts” (his words). Dan's legacy is broad ranging, including historical accounts of morphine users and the federal response to close down morphine clinics in the first quarter of this century; he made snowball sampling methods respectable; he saw rationality in the actions of heroin addicts and demonstrated this drug was not all-consuming; and he performed a similar service for cocaine. He struggled to maintain his career as a drug researcher, often without the support of federal monies. As recently as two years before his death, he traveled around the country to document the history of underground needle exchange programs that were developing–using his retirement savings. This article documents his many scientific contributions to our understanding of drug use in general, and the interface of drug use and crime in particular. Dan led a simple yet ever so rich life because he never shied away from telling the truth, and the wisdom of his vision helped so many others of us to see. That is his greatest legacy-and his gift. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.]