doi:10.7916/d8-jd5p-aw96Oral history interview with Binny, 1980Binnyoral historiesmixed materialDrug addicts--United StatesOpium abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesHeroin abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesChinese AmericansBinnyBinny begins the interview recalling his youth in Hong Kong with his mother, father, and brother. Together they worked at the family cigarette store until Binny decided to go abroad as a seaman. Binny describes working on a Standard Oil ship, including the opium use by many of the Chinese seamen and his own introduction to the drug. Binny discusses the difficulties of immigrating to the United States; he arrived in New York City at the age of twenty-five. He compares the shift in lifestyle from a seaman to a restaurant worker in New York City, and describes the long hours at restaurants. Binny describes opium use in the U.S., including a Newark, NJ smokehouse (opium den), separate spaces of Chinese and white smokers, and the disappearance of opium from New York City, which pushed him to heroin. Binny explains how he managed to survive using heroin for many years, including maintenance of needles. He describes users detoxing while in jail. He also describes how he did not observe women using opium during his time and concludes by addressing his switch to methadone use