Campus News

'Narcotic Farm' Historian to Lecture

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 11, 2009) — The history of the first drug abuse treatment center in the United States, the "Narcotic Farm" on Leestown Road in Lexington, will be the subject of a lecture by noted historian Dr. Nancy Campbell of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at  the University of Kentucky Medical Center. 

Campbell's lecture, "Rediscovering the Science of the Addiction Research Center," will take place in room MN 263 of the William R. Willard Medical Education Building, one flight up from the Medical Center Library.  It is being presented by the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, along with the Bell Alcohol and Addictions Chair and the UK NIDA Training Programs.  The entire campus community is invited to attend. 

The Narcotic Farm, in addition to serving as a prison, was the premiere laboratory conducting research on drug dependence disorders.  Formally known as the U.S. Public Health Service Narcotic Hospital, it was predecessor to the modern-day Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  Campbell has conducted extensive research into the history of the Lexington Narcotics Farm and the history of addiction science.

A discussion with Campbell, JP Olsen and Luke Walden (creators of the film "The Narcotic Farm") will follow.