Robinson's Podcast 257 - Carl Hart: The Neuroscience of Drugs and Their Role in the Good Life
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Aug 17, 2025 Carl Hart, Mamie Phipps Clark Professor of Psychology at Columbia University, dives into the complex world of psychoactive drugs. He explores addiction's misconceptions, revealing that most users don't struggle with it. Hart critiques traditional drug education and the opioid crisis, emphasizing informed choices over fear-based tactics. The discussion touches on drugs' impact on creativity and social dynamics, while advocating for a science-based approach to drug policy that acknowledges the societal contexts of drug use.
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Addiction Is Not Typical
- Addiction is the exception, not the rule; most people who use psychoactive drugs do not become addicted.
- Carl Hart stresses that society treats addiction as the norm, which distorts policy and public perception.
Laws Grew From Fear And Budgets
- Drug criminalization historically followed xenophobia and scapegoating, not pharmacology or safety.
- Hart links early U.S. drug laws to fear of Chinese and Black populations and budget motives for enforcement.
Teach Practical Drug Safety In Schools
- Teach practical safety to young people: recognize alcohol poisoning, asthma risks, and cannabis-induced paranoia.
- Emphasize first-aid actions like keeping an unconscious person off their back and staying calm with a panicked smoker.
