Exploring Disconnections Between Science and Legislation
On October 9th, The Murphy Institute’s Center for Ethics launched its 2025-2026 Public Lecture Series, a vital platform for intellectual exchange across a broad range of disciplines and engagement of pressing ethical questions, with a presentation by neuroscientist, psychologist, and Columbia University professor Dr. Carl Hart. The event, titled Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Where Liberty, Policy & Science Collide, was co-sponsored by the Tulane School of Medicine’s MS Program in Bioethics and Medical Humanities and Tulane’s Department of Psychology. It was held in the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall of the Lavin-Bernick Center on Tulane’s Uptown Campus.
Recipient of the 2022 Abraham L. Halpern Humanitarian Award for his contributions to human rights and drug policy reform, Dr. Hart’s lecture examined the historical and scientific foundations of U.S. drug policy. He highlighted how legislation has often preceded empirical research, suggesting that political pressures and public fear have shaped drug laws more than scientific consensus.
Through his research, Dr. Hart promotes science-based approaches to drug use and justice. He addressed the importance of public health education and harm reduction strategies explaining, “If we as a society would have supportive services so people can have their drugs tested, receive education about what doses they should be using, and information on routes of administration, that would help prevent [safety] problems.”
Central to his lecture was the concept of bodily autonomy, a principle he linked to democratic values and constitutional protections. He advocated for the regulation of known substances over prohibition, suggesting that such an approach could reduce harm and improve public health outcomes. “Every democratic nation professes to protect bodily autonomy meaning individuals control what happens with their own bodies,” Hart expressed.
He defended the ability to alter ones’ consciousness in the privacy of their homes, called for information to be made available for one to do so safely, and suggested law intervention is then needed when there’s a risk posed to others.
“If we regulate known drugs rather than ban them, we can reduce harm and improve public health outcomes.”
In his talk, Dr. Hart advocated for harm reduction and medically supervised programs for a pragmatic approach that prioritizes human dignity and social integration over punishment. He critiqued the U.S. landscape for treatment, claiming it is often punitive and moralistic and highlighting missed opportunities to mitigate harm and support recovery.
His lecture intertwined scientific data, historical context, and ethical philosophy to challenge entrenched narratives surrounding drug use and policy in America. His emphasis on liberty and bodily autonomy aims to reframe drug use as a personal choice that should be respected rather than outlawed.
In closing, Dr. Hart called for a shift in drug policy from criminalization to regulation, urging policymakers and the public to consider liberty, dignity, and scientific evidence in shaping future legislation.
Each year, The Murphy Institute’s Center for Ethics invites distinguished academics to present their current work at the Center for Ethics Public Lecture Series for interdisciplinary dialogue on contemporary ethical issues. Since 2001, the Center for Ethics has hosted more than 200 guest speakers. Lectures are free and open to all members of the Tulane community as well as the general public.
