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Drug Use for Grown-Ups

Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear

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Drug Use for Grown-Ups

By: Carl L. Hart
Narrated by: Carl L. Hart
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About this listen

 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. Biological Sciences Freedom & Security Law Politics & Government Science Social Sciences Happiness Crime War Thought-Provoking Social justice Inspiring
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What a refreshing insight into the reality of drugs! I wish more people could read or listen to this book.

Truth

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So much to learn from Dr. Carl. Amazing to confirm views I have held for years and to educate those who are nervous about drugs and their influence.

A great experience

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Fascinating book that challenged some of my own ideas, and I had considered myself very open minded about drugs prior to listening. My only struggle was the narration, the rhythm of speech was really difficult to get into.

z

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The war on drugs is a war on people and Dr. Hart gives a modicum of balance to the incredibly one sided conversation about drugs.
He discusses how they have been blamed for many issues that poverty and institutional racism are the true root cause of. He exposes the biases we have of certian branches of the pharmaceutical tree and the hypocrisy of looking at drugs such as opiates and amphetamines as medicines when prescribed to cope with pain and poisons when used for pleasure.
What does decriminalisation look like? His trip into the Spanish social drug scene exposes the truth about drug use; that grown ups can manage their lives effectively alongside responsible drug usage and what results is a happier more free society with decreased incarceration rates and better quality stuff.

A perspective more people need to hear.

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I'm a big fan of Carl's ideas and ideology. He highlights many of the double standards when dealing with drug 'crimes' (race). However I felt a fair amount of his arguments were based on his own personal drug use. One highly educated man's personal use is not going to sway the masses. We need large scale studies from that prove that responsible drug use can help the individual as well as society.

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