Carl Hart: Drug Use for Grown-Ups

Even among proponents of drug legalization, Columbia University neuroscientist Carl Hart stands apart for his unflinching honesty.

“I am now entering my fifth year as a regular heroin user,” the 54-year-old full professor writes in Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear. “I do not have a drug-use problem. Never have. Each day, I meet my parental, personal, and professional responsibilities. I pay my taxes, serve as a volunteer in my community…and contribute to the global community as an informed and engaged citizen. I am better for my drug use.”

In a wide-ranging conver