doi:10.7916/d8-pqw0-a271Oral history interview with Willis Butler, 1978Butler, Willis Poral historiesmixed materialDrug addicts--United StatesDrug abuse--Treatment--LouisianaDrug control--History--20th century.--United StatesDrug abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesMorphine abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesDrug addicts--Rehabilitation--United StatesDrugs--PrescribingButler, Willis PIn this interview, Willis P. Butler discusses how he treated narcotic addicts at his clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana. He describes how he detoxed healthy patients, but maintained terminally ill or incurable patients on a steady dose of morphine. He discusses how the clinic aimed to serve residents of Shreveport only, and practices through which clinic staff verified that patients were residents. He discusses how each patient underwent a background check, which also verified their place of residence and employment. He explains how many patients suffered from underlying conditions such as asthma, tuberculosis, rheumatism, and most prominently, venereal disease, and how the clinic treated these conditions in addition to the patients' narcotic addictions. He speculates about the etiology of the drug addiction cases. Butler recalls the strong opposition to his work at the clinic that he received from other doctors in the field. He discusses his clinic being investigated, and being ordered to close