Dr. James Solomon; Psychiatrist, Former State Consultant

Dr. James Solomon, 79, psychiatrist and former consultant to the California Department of Social Services. Solomon opposed giving disability benefits to abusers of drugs or alcohol. The state is considering canceling benefits to known addicts, adopting his theory that “work is one of the best therapies.” A native of Chicago, Solomon was educated at the University of Illinois and had a private psychiatry practice in Los Angeles from 1946 until 1984. He retired last year from his state position as psychiatric medical consultant and evaluation specialist. During his 11-year tenure, he was instrumental in setting up a fraud unit within the state Department of Social Services. Always a civic leader, Solomon was a leader of No Oil, which won a court ruling banning Santa Monica Bay oil drilling proposed by Occidental Oil Co. On Sunday in Santa Monica.