Crossing the Line

A heroin researcher partakes and pays the price

By SCOTT SMALLWOOD

New York

One morning three years ago, Ansley Hamid was awakened by a thumping on his door. First, the anthropologist says, he thought it might be the pest-control man. It wasn't. "This is the police. Open up!" Groggy and shirtless, Mr. Hamid complied, peering out above the security chain.

He asked if he could get dressed...

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