David E. Smith

Dr. David E. Smith is recognized as a national leader in addiction medicine, the psychopharmacology of drugs, new research strategies in the management of drug abuse problems, and proper prescribing practices for physicians. He is the Founder of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics of San Francisco and has been honored as one of the "Best Doctors in America".

Dr. Smith is a Fellow and Past President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Past President of the California Society of Addiction Medicine, Past Medical Director for the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Past Medical Director for the California Collaborative Center for Substance Abuse Policy Research, and former advisor to the Betty Ford Center. Current appointments include Chair of Addiction Medicine for Bayside Marin Treatment Centers and Medical Director for Centerpoint drug rehabilitation centers. Dr. Smith is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Smith is the Founder and Publisher of the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs and co-editor of the International Addiction Infoline newsletter. In addition, he has authored or co-authored 26 books (including the textbook "Clinician's Guide to Substance Abuse"), written over 340 journal articles, edited 28 journals, and been the technical consultant for 28 drug abuse-related films.

In 2006, Dr. Smith founded the Free Clinic Cooperative, a non-profit organization, who's mission is to reach out to and support free medical clinics nationwide. He also has opened several medical clinics that use the Prometa Treratment Protocol for addiction, most recently in Santa Monica, CA (2006) and in San Francisco, CA (2007).

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Haight Ashbury Free Clinic

On June 7, 1967, David E. Smith, MD, founded and opened the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic in San Francisco, CA on Haight Street as a response to the medical needs of thousands of young people who descended upon San Francisco for the Summer of Love. The Clinic still operates today in San Francisco and continues to serve those without adequate health insurance.

Dr.Smith served as President of the Clinic for 39 years, since its inception. He resigned as President of the Clinic in February 2006 amid legal, medical, and business disputes with the current Clinic administration.

Haight Ashbury Free Clinic Benefit Concerts

  The Clinic was initially funded through proceeds of benefit concerts, many of which were organized by Bill Graham (promoter). The first of such benefit concerts took place on July 13, 1967 at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, CA. Another, titled "Dr. Sunday's Medicine Show", took place on October 8, 1967 in San Jose, CA.

These benefit concerts, organized by Dr.Smith and Bill Graham in the early years of the Clinic, included bands such as Big Brother and the Holding Company, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Ravi Shankar, George Harrison, The Charlatans, Blue Cheer, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. The concerts proved crucial in providing the funding necessary to keep the Clinic doors open during its early years, as traditional sources of funding were not immediately forthcoming.

Rock Medicine

Through the benefit concerts organized with Bill Graham in the late 1960's and early 1970's, Dr.Smith oversaw the creation of Rock Medicine. In the spring of 1973, Bill Graham staged two consecutive Saturday concerts at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, CA featuring The Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin. Bill Graham asked Dr.Smith to staff a "medical emergency care tent" during both concerts. These small stadium concerts, about 18,000 at the Dead and 25,000 at Led Zeppelin, evolved into Bill Graham's Days on the Green concert series. The "medical emergency care tent" became Rock Medicine, which is a branch of the Clinic that still exists today and provides medical emergency care at various Bay Area music concerts and events.

References

Davidson, Leigh. Smith, David E. 'We Built This Clinic on Rock n' Roll'. DrDave.org, 24 March 2007. 16:50 UTC, [accessed 24 March 2007]

Links

• Dr.David E Smith's Homepage

• Free Clinic Cooperative

• PROMETA Treatment Information

• PROMETA Centers Homepage

• Hythiam, Inc.

• Rock Medicine

• Haight Ashbury Free Clinic