New York City
Many of you may not know who Ira was but to those who knew him from his
writings and articles that appeared in many of our affiliates newsletters he
was special. In many ways he was the typical patient who had been “hood
winked” by the misinformation and negative barrage about methadone. The
Advocacy Movement touched him and he in turn touched us – he was just able
to express his experience.
On July 6, 1996 after signing himself out of the Mt. Sinai Medical Center
against medical advise, Ira Sobel died of a heart attack. He had been having
pains in his chest and back. (No one knew he had signed himself out of the
hospital.) Evidentally he began to have severe pain and called 911 but when
the ambulance arrived it was too late. While in the hospital he was still
calling several affiliates because he concerned about getting his promised articles
to them for the next issue.
We will miss you Ira, and your stories — and like you always ended them….
PEACE
Joycelyn Woods