Marty Blaustein: The Pioneering Days of Odyssey House Utah
The key was being honest, and a lot of the clients that we had- you know they were on the street and a lot of them weren't- weren't actually used to telling the truth.
Picture this: a group of recovering heroin addicts from New York making their way to Salt Lake City 50 years ago, with the dream of starting a revolutionary addiction treatment program. In this gripping episode of 'Odyssey House Journals', Randall Carlisle sits down with Marty Blaustein, the first administrative director of Odyssey House of Utah. Blaustein opens up about the incredible journey and hurdles faced in those early days.
From an intense eight-hour interview process to the struggle for community acceptance, Blaustein's stories are nothing short of riveting. You'll hear about the innovative steps they took, like pioneering urine tests to monitor sobriety, and the vital role honesty played in their therapeutic community. Blaustein also shares how Judy Ann Denson Gerber, a lawyer and doctor, was instrumental in expanding the program.
Whether you're interested in the history of addiction treatment or looking for inspiring stories of resilience, this episode offers a raw and eye-opening look at the beginnings of Odyssey House Utah.