Oral history interview with Judianne Densen-Gerber, 1981

Biographical Note

Judianne Densen-Gerber was born on November 13, 1934 in Manhattan, New York to Beatrice Densen and Gustave Gerber. She earned a law degree from Columbia University, and a medical degree from New York University. Although she was a psychiatrist, during her residency at Metropolitan Hospital, she was briefly assigned to work in the hospital's addiction center. In 1966, she created the therapeutic drug treatment facility Odyssey House. She lobbied for stricter legislation against child pornography in the late 1970s. She is the author of "We Mainline Dreams." Judianne Densen-Gerber was interviewed for the project that led to the book Addicts Who Survived

Scope and Contents

In this interview, Judianne Densen-Gerber discusses her career at Odyssey House. She recalls being introduced to the field of addiction treatment through working at Metropolitan Hospital's addiction center during her residency program. She describes how the experience inspired her to found Odyssey House in 1966. She discusses techniques she adopted from other therapeutic communities including Daytop and Synanon, and how Odyssey House differs from those other programs. She discusses her view of addiction as non-physiological, and rather the result of character disorders. She discusses how the most impactful psychologists to her practice are Sigmond Freud and Maxwell Jones. Densen-Gerber explains how the typical addict that visits Odyssey House has changed over its fifteen years of operation. She discusses her views on current drug policies, and describes her desire for more consistent and scientific drug policy. She recalls the split of Odyssey House leadership in 1967, and discusses its connection to internal tensions between the professional staff and the ex-addict staff. Densen-Gerber breaks down the Odyssey House budget and expenditures. She discusses her opposition to methadone maintenance, and why she thinks it is not the solution to opiate addiction. She responds to the many public criticisms and allegations leveled against Odyssey House on a variety of topics, such as the programs cost effectiveness and purported corruption. She discusses what she envisions for the future of Odyssey House

Subjects

• Courtwright, David T., 1952- interviewer.
• Densen-Gerber, Judianne, 1934---Interviews.
• Drug abuse--Psychological aspects.
• Drug abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Drug addicts--Rehabilitation--United States.
• Drug addicts--United States.
• Interviews.
• Methadone maintenance--United States--History--20th century.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Therapeutic communities.

Access Conditions

Copyright by David Courtwright