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alexandrabree's review
2.0
Keeping in mind a PHd scientist write this. So disappointed, poor arguments. Glossing over the fact that 1. The world will probably ever have the perfect mental health he speaks about necessary to combat all addiction 2. Even if everything turns “white” market there will be at least a few people who operate a “black” market 3. Negative long term effects on the physical body from drugs like math, crack and heroine. Even if it’s only habitual use not addiction there are effects…. Cherry picking information, poor explanations… could have been so so much better
rodions_hatchet's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.25
Bought this book not really knowing what to expect but I was initially excited and curious about it. Certainly, there are some great parts of the book, sort of peppered in between Hart's outlandish claims, but overall I wouldn't recommend this book.
Start out positive; I thought his international travels, observations, and discussions were interesting and very cool. I 100% back the idea of providing anonymous drug testing, setting up safe using areas, and overcoming the stigma lingering from the war on drugs. I appreciate how honest he is about former political views he now looks back on with regret. The instances of racism and microaggresions appearing throughout the book do a great job exploring some of the more everyday, standard forms racism. The man loves drugs and believes they are not inherently negative and I'm right there with you.
Now, the negatives; There were MULTIPLE times throughout this when I was like wtf is this man saying? I almost got the vibe that half this book is just Hart trying to convince himself he's not addicted to heroin (joking, kinda). But really his claims about opiods are fine at best, he seems to me like someone who is sheltered in the academic world and very idelaistic. Like, there are studies where the chemical, biological, and physiological process he explains and explores in this book are accurate. However, I'm going to share some things I found bizzare;
-He thinks he's the master on Opiate withdrawals because he did heroin for some small amount of time then forced himself to withdrawal and like 48 hours into it he was giving a discussion at a conference like my friend that's like level 1. Also, he said he hates Trainspotting because it's "too sensationalist" but he also regularly brings up that he's not an addict, he's a casual drug user. That movie is about heroin addiction and in my personal opinion it's the most accurate feeling expression of the way it feels and affects you. He complains that heroin doesn't make you hallucinate because in one scene Renton sees something awful coming towards him but it's metaphorical not literal!
-He's bring up the Declaration of Independence more than Nic Cage. He seems to believe in this document very deeply, an almost mystic certainty that this text is reality. Beyond his more radical views on drugs he's very libertarian and liberal. Other than the racist instances cited he mostly fails to incorporate structural, economic, social, and class influences in a way that's ever more than surface level. He has the science of drugs but he fails to investigate or incorporate the nuance and interplay between these themes and drugs in a way that felt profound or meaningful.
-He has this weird bit where he's comparing opiod overdose deaths to car accidents and basically makes the argument that more people die in vehicles. Unfortunately, he failed to take into account that far more humans drive cars than use opiods. His take on opiod overdoses is like "uhm actually toxicology came back and they were positive for opiods, THC, and sedatives so we can't say for certain which killed them". Which like yeah? Okay. He critiques calling harm reduction "harm reduction" for some forgettable reason (I forgot anyway).
This is not a book to read for drug addicts, it's a book for Grown Ups who do drugs RESPONSIBLY and they're letting you know!
Start out positive; I thought his international travels, observations, and discussions were interesting and very cool. I 100% back the idea of providing anonymous drug testing, setting up safe using areas, and overcoming the stigma lingering from the war on drugs. I appreciate how honest he is about former political views he now looks back on with regret. The instances of racism and microaggresions appearing throughout the book do a great job exploring some of the more everyday, standard forms racism. The man loves drugs and believes they are not inherently negative and I'm right there with you.
Now, the negatives; There were MULTIPLE times throughout this when I was like wtf is this man saying? I almost got the vibe that half this book is just Hart trying to convince himself he's not addicted to heroin (joking, kinda). But really his claims about opiods are fine at best, he seems to me like someone who is sheltered in the academic world and very idelaistic. Like, there are studies where the chemical, biological, and physiological process he explains and explores in this book are accurate. However, I'm going to share some things I found bizzare;
-He thinks he's the master on Opiate withdrawals because he did heroin for some small amount of time then forced himself to withdrawal and like 48 hours into it he was giving a discussion at a conference like my friend that's like level 1. Also, he said he hates Trainspotting because it's "too sensationalist" but he also regularly brings up that he's not an addict, he's a casual drug user. That movie is about heroin addiction and in my personal opinion it's the most accurate feeling expression of the way it feels and affects you. He complains that heroin doesn't make you hallucinate because in one scene Renton sees something awful coming towards him but it's metaphorical not literal!
-He's bring up the Declaration of Independence more than Nic Cage. He seems to believe in this document very deeply, an almost mystic certainty that this text is reality. Beyond his more radical views on drugs he's very libertarian and liberal. Other than the racist instances cited he mostly fails to incorporate structural, economic, social, and class influences in a way that's ever more than surface level. He has the science of drugs but he fails to investigate or incorporate the nuance and interplay between these themes and drugs in a way that felt profound or meaningful.
-He has this weird bit where he's comparing opiod overdose deaths to car accidents and basically makes the argument that more people die in vehicles. Unfortunately, he failed to take into account that far more humans drive cars than use opiods. His take on opiod overdoses is like "uhm actually toxicology came back and they were positive for opiods, THC, and sedatives so we can't say for certain which killed them". Which like yeah? Okay. He critiques calling harm reduction "harm reduction" for some forgettable reason (I forgot anyway).
This is not a book to read for drug addicts, it's a book for Grown Ups who do drugs RESPONSIBLY and they're letting you know!
cymshady's review against another edition
5.0
I needed to read this! Not only professionally, but personally. Using substances isn’t inherently wrong and specific substances themselves aren’t either. Looking forward to seeing Dr. Hart in person in November!
yanblonde's review
5.0
This is an awesome book and a great read! Such important work and ideas being discussed throughout the whole book. It was interesting delving into Dr Hart's international work- and seeing how the laws and societal norms differ between countries, yet there are people in each country doing the same work and sharing the same ideas. It was funny, eye-opening, engaging, and relatable. The complete lack of shame from the author allows the reader a second-hand high of freedom, if you will. Loved it!!!! Thanks Dr. Carl L Hart for writing this book!
savannahnlee's review against another edition
3.5
Great content, but a little slow for me at times. Had to stay very intentional about remaining engaged while listening
junypaganmd's review against another edition
3.0
Hart es un hombre audaz y valiente por salir del armario y declarar públicamente que, como neurocientífico y profesor, «casualmente consume drogas en su búsqueda de la felicidad». No drogas como la cafeína o el alcohol, sino drogas como la heroína y otros opioides, anfetaminas y otras. Según él, su consumo es responsable y «adulto» (de ahí el título «Drug Use for Grown-Ups»). Le aplaudo por su valentía y por escribir un libro como este, en el que aboga por la legalización y regulación de las drogas, entre otras cosas.
En cuanto a mi lectura, no suelo dejar libros sin terminar, pero este fue el caso: me faltaron los tres últimos capítulos por leer. No por nada, ya que la narración era muy interesante, los argumentos eran bastante convincentes y la ciencia de las drogas me enganchó (juego de palabras). Simplemente no es mi tipo de lectura favorito, así que lo terminaré más adelante. No quiero forzarme. Por ahora le doy un 7/10, es decir, tres estrellas.
En cuanto a mi lectura, no suelo dejar libros sin terminar, pero este fue el caso: me faltaron los tres últimos capítulos por leer. No por nada, ya que la narración era muy interesante, los argumentos eran bastante convincentes y la ciencia de las drogas me enganchó (juego de palabras). Simplemente no es mi tipo de lectura favorito, así que lo terminaré más adelante. No quiero forzarme. Por ahora le doy un 7/10, es decir, tres estrellas.