Oral history interview with Salvador, 1980

Biographical Note

Salvador was born on October 14, 1906 in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York. He was the oldest of five children. His formal education ended when he left school in the sixth grade. At seventeen years of age, Salvador began using opium. At twenty three years of age, he began using heroin, and soon after, selling it. That same year, he got married and had a son. He was arrested around nine times in his life, and spent a rough total of fourteen years incarcerated. He joined the methadone program in the early 1970s. Salvador was interviewed for the project that led to the book Addicts Who Survived. The name is likely a pseudonym for the project

Scope and Contents

In this interview, Salvador discusses his life in New York City, with respect to his drug use and trafficking. He describes using opium and heroin. He discusses in depth his heroin trafficking including his suppliers, his clientele, his prices, and the location he sold from. He compares the quality and price of heroin across decades in the twentieth century. He reviews his arrest history, and estimates having spent a total of fourteen years incarcerated in his lifetime. He describes how he was able to smuggle heroin into federal prison in Atlanta, Georgia. He describes joining a methadone program in the early 1970s, and gives his opinion of the program. He reviews his health issues including emphysema, ulcers, and back pain

Subjects

• Drug abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Drug addicts--United States.
• Drug dealers--United States.
• Drug traffic--United States--History--20th century.
• Heroin abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Imprisonment--United States.
• Interviews.
• Joseph, Herman, 1931- interviewer.
• Methadone maintenance--United States--History--20th century.
• Opium abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Salvador--Interviews.

Access Conditions

Copyright by David Courtwright