Stanton Peele

After the disastrous misconceptions of the 20th century, we're returning to the idea that drugs are an ordinary part of life experience and no more cause addiction than do other behaviors. This is rational and welcome.

The disease model is convenient to liberals because it spares them having to say negative things about poor communities. But this conception of addiction harms the very people we wish to help.

The U.S. public health establishment buries overwhelming evidence that abstinence is a cause of heart disease and early death. People deserve to know that alcohol gives most of us a higher life expectancy—even if consumed above recommended limits.

My book Love and Addiction, published in 1975, proved prescient in the decades that followed. How optimistic should we be as we look further ahead?