Oral history interview with Ira Mothner, 2014

Biographical Note

Ira Mothner is an author, journalist and public relations consultant, with extensive experience in magazine journalism. In the 1970s, he collaborated with Mitchell Rosenthal on a book entitled Drugs, Parents and Children (1972). He is also the author of How to Get Off Drugs (1984)

Scope and Contents

In the first session, Ira Mothner describes his career in magazine journalism, and, subsequently, in speechwriting for the Mayor of New York. He explains his prior connection to therapeutic communities, which led to his involvement with Phoenix House. He describes the process of writing the book Drugs, Parents and Children (1972) with Mitchell Rosenthal. He details the early therapeutic community methods, including tactics of humiliation. He speaks to his personal connection to addiction. Mothner describes his role in fundraising and crafting the Phoenix House narrative. He discusses the "academy model of treatment." Finally, Mothner comments on methadone versus therapeutic treatment for addiction, and recent marijuana legalization battles. In the second session, Mothner speaks on substance abuse among adolescents today. He discusses Phoenix House's changing treatment model, especially the role of adolescents in its evolution. He comments on the social aspects of working at Phoenix House, particularly his working relationship with Mitchell Rosenthal. He also comments on the Abraham Beame investigation and the plans for the Nancy Reagan Center in California. Finally, Mothner describes some of the major fundraising galas at Phoenix House

Subjects

• Addicts--Rehabilitation.
• Beame, Abraham D. (Abraham David), 1906-2001.
• Bertin-Mahieux, Caitlin, interviewer.
• Fund raising.
• Interviews.
• Marijuana--Law and legislation--United States.
• Mothner, Ira--Interviews.
• Nonprofit organizations--Finance.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Phoenix House (Organization)
• Rosenthal, Mitchell S., 1935-
• Substance abuse--Treatment.
• Teenagers--Drug use--United States.
• Therapeutic communities.

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2014