Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear

Dr. Carl L. Hart

Jan 2021 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

“Hart’s argument that we need to drastically revise our current view of illegal drugs is both powerful and timely . . . when it comes to the legacy of this country’s war on drugs, we should all share his outrage.” —The New York Times Book Review

From one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, a powerful argument that the greatest damage from drugs flows from their being illegal, and a hopeful reckoning with the possibility of their use as part of a responsible and happy life

Dr. Carl L. Hart, Ziff Professor at Columbia University and former chair of the Department of Psychology, is one of the world's preeminent experts on the effects of so-called recreational drugs on the human mind and body. Dr. Hart is open about the fact that he uses drugs himself, in a happy balance with the rest of his full and productive life as a researcher and professor, husband, father, and friend. In Drug Use for Grown-Ups, he draws on decades of research and his own personal experience to argue definitively that the criminalization and demonization of drug use--not drugs themselves--have been a tremendous scourge on America, not least in reinforcing this country's enduring structural racism.

Dr. Hart did not always have this view. He came of age in one of Miami's most troubled neighborhoods at a time when many ills were being laid at the door of crack cocaine. His initial work as a researcher was aimed at proving that drug use caused bad outcomes. But one problem kept cropping up: the evidence from his research did not support his hypothesis. From inside the massively well-funded research arm of the American war on drugs, he saw how the facts did not support the ideology. The truth was dismissed and distorted in order to keep fear and outrage stoked, the funds rolling in, and Black and brown bodies behind bars.

Drug Use for Grown-Ups will be controversial, to be sure: the propaganda war, Dr. Hart argues, has been tremendously effective. Imagine if the only subject of any discussion about driving automobiles was fatal car crashes. Drug Use for Grown-Ups offers a radically different vision: when used responsibly, drugs can enrich and enhance our lives. We have a long way to go, but the vital conversation this book will generate is an extraordinarily important step.

Ratings and reviews

I think the author is coming from an informed place, but he goes too far with some statements. While responsible drug use is possible for any drug, acting as if there are no comparatively "harder" (more addictive) drugs is a bit asinine. Again, I understand where he's coming from, and I believe all drugs should be legalized and regulated. But you don't have to go to the other extreme to do that. We can be pro-drug and nuanced. Overall the content is engaging, and at the very least there are studies brought up that challenge the perception of "harder" drugs.

Most of which I tend to agree with This Author n some I 50% disagree. I love smoking Marijuana but haven't done so in yrs. I did all through my Catholic HS yrs while Always reaching my A+ grade average. Crack Cocaine is a lot More Destructive than This Author is stating. Too many people suffered IMMENSELY with Sores everywhere, No Teeth, Extremely Thin, so much like the walking living skin n bones of death etc. Heroin is Extremely Addictive! Maybe some don't think It Is but, IT IS! The Methadone treatments were Sold if someone didn't drink their daily portions n front of the social drug enforcement. I am a Baltimore MD native who Is 62yrs old n have Done enough drugs legally n otherwise (EXCLUDING Heroin n just smoked Crack twice) to see n know first hand much to do about drugs. I am a Cosmetologist who's seen n knew a few who have suffered with or died of HIV-AIDS where n 1 was directly because of Herion not their being Gay. I'd like 2 buy This book 2 see where its story wins up...

One commenter mentioned he came off benzos with God's help. I'd been on Klonopin off and on for many years due to mental health issues. I finally came off them myself with NO help. Just took less and less. As long as you use them as prescribed and don't increase the dose yourself they're safe. Just like with all controlled drugs. They can be used for so many health problems especially psychiatric ones where they can work when nothing else will. Here's the problem... people who get prescriptions for them just so they can abuse them ruin it for the honest people who really need the help. That's what happened with the opioids. Now people who are in devastating chronic pain have to settle for Motrin because others ruined it for them. And Motrin doesn't work!! They can't even develop a decent anti abusive pain killer because they know opioids are the best natural pain killers on earth.

About the author

Dr. Carl L. Hart is the Ziff Professor of Psychology in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Columbia University. He is also a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Professor Hart has published numerous scientific and popular articles in the area of neuropsychopharmacology and is co-author of the textbook Drugs, Society and Human Behavior (with Charles Ksir). His book High Price was the 2014 winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.