Oral history interview with Barry R. McCaffrey, 2015

Biographical Note

Barry McCaffrey served in the United States Army for 32 years and retired as a four-star General. At retirement he was the most highly decorated serving General, having been awarded three Purple Heart medals for wounds received in his four combat tours-as well as twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor. He also twice was awarded the Silver Star for valor. For five years after leaving the military, Barry McCaffrey served as the nation's Cabinet Officer in charge of U.S. Drug Policy. After leaving government service, Barry McCaffrey served as the Bradley Distinguished Professor of International Security Studies from January 2001 to May 2005; and then as an Adjunct Professor of International Security Studies from May 2005 to December 2010 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY

Scope and Contents

McCaffrey describes his first encounters with substance abusers in the military during the 1960s and the subsequent pathway to his position as the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He discusses the politics of White House agencies and controversies over their respective jurisdictions. He speaks extensively on the nexus of mental health issues and substance abuse, and the role of the family in instilling anti-drug values in children. He narrates his own education on the "drug issue," from drug courts to methadone to therapeutic community methods. He gives his impressions of Phoenix House's work amid this discussion. McCaffrey also details the issues surrounding government funding of substance abuse treatment programs. Finally, he discusses the scientific controversies of using medication in treatment for addiction

Subjects

• Bertin-Mahieux, Caitlin, interviewer.
• Drug abuse--United States--History.
• Drug courts--United States
• Generals--Interviews.
• Interviews.
• McCaffrey, Barry R.--Interviews.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Phoenix House (Organization)
• Reagan, Nancy, 1921-2016.
• Rosenthal, Mitchell S., 1935-
• Substance abuse--Treatment.
• Therapeutic communities.
• United States. Office of National Drug Control Policy.
• Veterans--Mental health services--United States.
• Veterans--Substance use--United States.

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2015