Drug Use for Grown-Ups

Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear

By: Carl L. Hart

Narrated by: Carl L. Hart

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 colleague, 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.

*This audiobook includes a PDF of figures and an appendix from the book.

Dr Carl Hart should be our drug Czar

Honesty integrity common sense are just a few of the words I’d use to describe Dr Harts work. Hats off to you Dr. I’ve always felt so guilty about my drug use but I now know it’s cool. I eat good sleep well and have a job for the last 45 years that I love. I’ve always been on the down low about drugs, but I get it now. It’s time to come out of the closet and be proud of who I am and how i obtain stress release in a turbulent time. Drugs aren’t bad it’s the policy’s around them that are. Give people choices and jobs !! Get rid of all the jobs people have that make money of bad policy and replace this jobs w policy that makes sense. Thank you so much for writing this book and speaking up.

Brilliant

There are a few concepts/claims I plan to do more research on before endorsing, but overall this book is fantastic. As a drug abuse treatment counselor at an addiction treatment center, and an ex-user of 'hard' drugs, I have increasingly found my mind wandering into the theoretical territory of this book the past year. Due I think primarily to my profession, this has been rather lonely work. Its good to see that there is a network of likeminded thinkers out there, and a growing body of research looking into this subject.

Hart has trouble with pronunciation

Great book with provoking thoughts on drug application and regulation. only took a star away because it's clear Hart struggles with certain words so they've edited-in soundbites of him saying words correctly and it's very pronounced. I found his cadence and pronunciation unique and often fun to hear him kind of struggle through certain words.

Eye Opening

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in the effects of drugs either in their own body or on society as a whole.

Dr. Hart highlights the atrocities of the drug war, the complicity of the media, and a reasonable path forward.

Amazing.

One of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. So Good.