Oral history interview with Monsignor William O'Brien, 1981

Biographical Note

Monsignor William O'Brien was born in Yonkers, New York on September 28, 1924. He attended Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, then St. Joseph's Seminary and College. He was ordained a priest in 1951. From his ordination until 1957, O'Brien worked with the Orange County Catholic Youth Association. In 1957, he was stationed at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York, and became involved in the investigation of the Michael Farmer murder. In 1963, he founded the drug rehabilitation center Daytop with Dr. Daniel Casriel, Joseph Shelly, and Alexander Bassin. In 1966 he studied psychotherapy under Orval Hobart Mowrer at the University of Illinois with the Lily Foundation Fellowship, and earned his graduate degree. Monsignor William O'Brien was interviewed for the project that led to the book Addicts Who Survived

Scope and Contents

In this interview, Monsignor William O'Brien discusses how he became interested in the issue of drug abuse among American youth. He describes in depth the founding of Daytop in 1963 with his associates Dr. Daniel Casriel, Joseph Shelly, and Alexander Bassin, and to what extent the program was inspired by Synanon. He discusses the transformation Daytop underwent in 1968, after splitting with its then-director David Deitch. O'Brien discusses why Daytop chose to expand into a federation of independent locations, rather than franchises. He discusses the budget and funding of Daytop, and ponders how its government funding could be subject to change in the Reagan era. He discusses his opinion of methadone maintenance and compares it to the therapeutic community model. He discusses popular critiques of the therapeutic community model. O'Brien explains what makes Daytop unique compared to other therapeutic communities such as Odyssey House and Phoenix House. He discusses the philosophy of Daytop, results they have observed in the attendees of Daytop, and why he believes the program is successful

Subjects

• Courtwright, David T., 1952- interviewer.
• Daytop Village, inc.
• Drug abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Drug addicts--Rehabilitation--United States.
• Drug addicts--United States.
• Interviews.
• Methadone maintenance--United States--History--20th century.
• O'Brien, William B.--Interviews.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Phoenix House (Organization)
• Therapeutic communities.

Access Conditions

Copyright by David Courtwright