doi:10.7916/d8-rjck-8p49Oral history interview with Low, 1981Loworal historiesmixed materialDrug addicts--United StatesDrug traffic--History--20th century.--United StatesDrug abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesHeroin abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesMerchant marine--History.--United StatesGangs--New York (State)LowIn this interview, Low discusses his life in New York City with a focus on his drug use. Low describes being born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and immigrating with his family to New York City in 1927. He discusses the politics and interfacing of gangs that operated in his neighborhood of Spanish Harlem, mentioning groups like the Dukes, the Devils, and the Madison Flashes. He explains his fear and ignorance of the drug scene as a teen in the late 1930s, prior to his own addiction. He discusses at length his career in the merchant marines, including how he maintained his heroin addiction while at sea, the prices and quality of the heroin at the various ports his ship would stop at such as Lima, Peru; Genoa, Italy; and Beirut, Lebanon. He also discusses his drug connections in New York City, and his decision to buy heroin only from people he knew well