doi:10.7916/d8-9aa0-m047Oral history interview with Doretta, 1981Dorettaoral historiesmixed materialDrug addicts--United StatesDrug dealers--United StatesImprisonment--United StatesDrug traffic--History--20th century.--United StatesDrug abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesHeroin abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesDrug addicts--Rehabilitation--United StatesMethadone maintenance--History--20th century.--United StatesUmbrella industry--United StatesDoretta begin the interview by discussing her youth in Harlem in New York City, her education, her family history, and her parents' lives and employment. Doretta describes her first encounter with the criminal justice system and her experience in Women’s House of Detention in 1943. Doretta discusses her employment in the umbrella manufacturing, including nature of work, union, and coworkers. She describes her first experience with heroin, obtained from a hustling acquaintance who lived in her building. She describes moving to Norfolk, Virginia, her jobs there as a cleaner and a drug dealer, and her incarceration for two years for dealing. She describes work as a housekeeper in Great Neck, and returning to umbrella manufacturing after that. She describes the variance in drug use she had during different eras in her life and various aspects of her drug use. She discusses different attempts to get off heroin including multiple visits to the Bernstein Institute and her methadone maintenance at the time of the interview