Drug Use for Grown-Ups

Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear is a 2021 book by Columbia University professor[1] Carl Hart.[2][3] In part a memoir that discusses Hart's own experiences as a heroin user,[4][5] the book analyzes the science of addiction and advocates recreational drug use as part of the "pursuit of happiness".[6]

Drug Use for Grown-Ups
Book cover
AuthorCarl Hart
SubjectRecreational drug use, addiction
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherPenguin Press
Pages304

Reception

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Drug Use for Grown-Ups received mixed reviews upon its release.[7] Nicholas Cannariato wrote a generally favorable review for NPR that focused on Hart's civil libertarianism and focus on institutional racism.[8]

The Los Angeles Review of Books gave the book a mixed review, supporting Hart's conclusions on drug liberalization and yet opposing his "cherry picking" of evidence: "Carl L. Hart’s Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear is good drug policy based on bad rhetoric."[9] City Journal similarly argued that Hart ignores evidence in the book, instead focusing primarily on "personal anecdote".[10] Michael Shellenberger intensely criticized Hart's work in his 2021 book San Fransicko.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Carl Hart". Columbia University Department of Psychology. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  2. ^ Satel, Sally (January 13, 2021). "'Drug Use for Grown-Ups' Review: A Dose of Dissent". The Wall Street Journal (book review).
  3. ^ Anthony, Andrew (February 6, 2021). "Meet Carl Hart: parent, Columbia professor – and heroin user". The Guardian. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Leland, John (April 10, 2021). "This Heroin-Using Professor Wants to Change How We Think About Drugs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Why this Ivy League professor is advocating for heroin legalization". CNN. February 27, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Schwartz, Casey (January 12, 2021). "When Getting High Is a Hobby, Not a Habit". The New York Times (book review).
  7. ^ Illing, Sean (February 25, 2021). "A Columbia professor argues against our drug puritanism". Vox Media. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Cannariato, Nicholas (January 15, 2021). "'Drug Use For Grown-Ups' Serves As An Argument For Personal Choice". NPR. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Cichosz, Maria (November 16, 2021). "No Easy Fix: On Carl L. Hart's "Drug Use for Grown-Ups"". Los Angeles Review of Books. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Lehman, Charles Fain (January 27, 2021). "Drug Fiends and Fools". City Journal. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Shellenberger, Michael (2021). San Fransicko. HarperCollins.
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