# William Pollin

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Dr. **William Pollin** (May 13, 1922 – January 25, 2008)[1] was a [psychiatrist](/source/Psychiatrist) who served as the second director of the [National Institute on Drug Abuse](/source/National_Institute_on_Drug_Abuse) and as a staff member of the [National Institute of Mental Health](/source/National_Institute_of_Mental_Health). He is best remembered as the person who "declared [cigarette](/source/Cigarette) smoking was more [addictive](/source/Addiction) than [alcohol](/source/Alcohol_(drug)) or [heroin](/source/Heroin)."[2]

## Early life

Pollin was born in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) and served as a [merchant marine](/source/Merchant_marine) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). Following the war, he attended and graduated from the [City College of New York](/source/City_College_of_New_York) before attending [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University). He graduated from Columbia's medical school in 1952.[2]

## Career

NIDA Director [Nora Volkow](/source/Nora_Volkow) summarized Dr. Pollin's contributions to psychiatry and to [drug control](/source/Drug_policy) policy as follows:

At NIMH he contributed to early studies which examined pairs of twins to determine the connection between development of [schizophrenia](/source/Schizophrenia) and [obstetrical complications](/source/Obstetrical_complications) and various other neurological abnormalities. At NIDA he was one of the key researchers who changed the medical view of [tobacco smoking](/source/Tobacco_smoking) from an unhealthy habit to a diagnosable drug addiction—after which cigarette makers nicknamed him "Doctor Death" to the [tobacco industry](/source/Tobacco_industry). Dr. Pollin emphasized supporting family-oriented [drug prevention](/source/Drug_prevention) programs and during this time the rate of [cannabis](/source/Cannabis_(drug)) abuse in high school children declined.

## Personal life

Pollin married his first wife, Marilyn, in 1951. She died in 1990. He remarried in 1993.

## Death

Pollin died of a heart attack at [Suburban Hospital](/source/Suburban_Hospital) in [Bethesda, Maryland](/source/Bethesda,_Maryland). He was survived by his wife of 15 years, Teresa Pollin, as well as his two children from his first marriage; his stepson; and seven grandchildren.[2]

## References

1. ["William Pollin"](https://www.fold3.com/record/1564907/social-security-death-index-william-pollin). Retrieved December 21, 2020.

1. Sullivan, Patricia (2008-01-31). ["William Pollin, 85; Led Institute on Drug Abuse"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/30/AR2008013003984.html). *[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)*. Retrieved 2014-03-15.

## External links

- ["William Pollin"](http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Author/24653556/william-pollin). *Microsoft Academic Search*. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- "[Why People Smoke Cigarettes](http://www.stop-smoking-programs.org/why-do-people-smoke.html)", a statement on cigarette smoking developed from testimony delivered before the U.S. Congress by William Pollin, M.D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse on March 16, 1982 (DHHS, 1983).

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