"Drugs Aren’t the Problem": Neuroscientist Carl Hart take 2

neversickanymore

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"Drugs Aren’t the Problem": Neuroscientist Carl Hart on Brain Science & Myths About Addiction

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2014​

"As we continue our conversation on the nationwide shift toward liberalizing drug laws, we are joined by the groundbreaking neuropsychopharmacologist Dr. Carl Hart. He is the first tenured African-American professor in the sciences at Columbia University, where he is an associate professor in the psychology and psychiatry departments. He is also a member of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse and a research scientist in the Division of Substance Abuse at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. However, long before he entered the hallowed halls of the Ivy League, Hart gained firsthand knowledge about drug usage while growing up in one of Miami’s toughest neighborhoods. He recently wrote a memoir titled "High Price: A Neuroscientist’s Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society." In the book, he recalls his journey of self-discovery, how he escaped a life of crime and drugs and avoided becoming one of the crack addicts he now studies."

with video interview

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/1/6/drugs_arent_the_problem_neuroscientist_carl :)

I take back everything I said negatively about Dr. Carl Hart.. I think what gave me any bad opinion of Dr, Hart from the last article was the absolute fool that wrote the last article, Period. ~NSA
 
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Great read.
Neversick, I'd like to thank you pming the link to me.

I'm glad I finally found some time to sit and read this, even though it was long it was definitely worth the read.

Weekend addiction that's not a bad way to sum up this piece not sure its the best way either. Lol

This was great incite into a very wise mind and I'd recommend reading it to any bluelighters who havent already takin it upon themselves.

Society really has a lot of progress to make on how its treated drugs and drug users but this a good starting point.
 
I've seen a lot of Dr. Carl Harts interviews and others on BigThink channel in the past, I think the guy is for sure on the right path. I really like him and agree with ALMOST everything he says about society and drugs and all that shit. I think I may have to order his book, I think it would be a really enjoyable read and not to mention he's basically got one of my (and probably a lot of others in the AD forums) dream jobs.
 
I was considering it as well, any body read it?

Not yet but I just ordered it. So I shall have a great book to read here soon, most of the stuff in the book I am sure I already know but I still respect the man and am sure there is much information within this book that will add to my vast knowledge.

I dont know how to post videos on here but here is a great video to watch to know what Dr. Carl Hart is all about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdsN_vYZ3w8
 
Why not read the article/watch the video?

Drug abuse is a symptom of a much larger problem, it is not the cause of the problems which are often attributed to drugs.
 
Drug abuse is a symptom of a much larger problem, it is not the cause of the problems which are often attributed to drugs.

Something I've been trying unsuccessfully to carefully explain to countless pro-drug war men and women for quite some time now - and they just don't get it (or don't want to get it). Arrogance matched only by ignorance. Sad story (not to mention frustrating).
 
Something I've been trying unsuccessfully to carefully explain to countless pro-drug war men and women for quite some time now - and they just don't get it (or don't want to get it). Arrogance matched only by ignorance. Sad story (not to mention frustrating).

I do the same with family and acquaintances with the same results you described.
It is a shame.
I believe its that they don't want to. Its sad the world has been conditioned for them to think that way tho.
 
ive always agreed that drugs are a symptom of a bigger problem...the problem is, drugs work really well at solving these problems in short term while creating much bigger ones long term...make sense?
 
just listened to video, interesting that this man said 'society needs intoxicants'..i have never heard an expert or scientist ever claim that..also, he said 80-90% of heroin/crack users werent addicted, daily users?i had always heard the notion that monkeys would inject cocaine until they die but this man said that isnt true..hhmmm
 
Belfort said:
just listened to video, interesting that this man said 'society needs intoxicants'..i have never heard an expert or scientist ever claim that..also, he said 80-90% of heroin/crack users werent addicted, daily users?i had always heard the notion that monkeys would inject cocaine until they die but this man said that isnt true..hhmmm

I believe the point he was trying to make is that, for the majority of those experiments, the animals tested on were made to live in deplorable conditions. And as a result, these animals began to exhibit severe drug seeking behavior.

In stark contrast, when the same species of those animals were given choices, such as a mate, such as a social network, such as other activities to stimulate their senses, it was observed and noted that the animals actually chose to not self-administer any drug in question. And it makes perfect sense that this would be the outcome.

Sadly, the majority of data on drug addiction is based on the the first model of study where the normally social animal is confined to a cage by itself, and is given a choice of two levers to press (the first being water with sugar in it, and the second a street drug).

While I do not agree with absolutely everything he has to say in relation to drug law and policy reform, I applaud the respectable Dr. Hart for taking advantage of this so-called information age we're living in, and informing those who are willing to listen of his observations.

By the way, there was also at least one very similar human study which I remember reading about where the goal of said study was to observe whether former opioid addicts had a better chance of staying clean if their quality of life was positively influenced. And sure enough, those who were confined to a clean, warm, sunny, organized environment with lots of activities to do, good food to eat, and filled with supportive, friendly, compassionate, caring individuals never started using the opioid of their choice again.

The other group - which was kept in conditions resembling living in poverty - were overwhelmed by cravings for any opioid they could get their hands on (including the likes of codeine and tramadol).

Now, unfortunately, I don't have a source to provide you with regarding the aforementioned human study. However, I will look for it, and I will append this post when I do find it. In the meantime, believe me when I say that I wouldn't lie about this. Loss of credibility in relation to a very controversial topic which I consider to be extremely important to the proper progression of the human race is not something I would wanna bullshit you (or anyone else) about.
 
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