The Drug Science Podcast

In this episode, Kate Hayes reflects on her experiences with the LSD Microdot Gang, drawing upon her interactions and experiences with Dr. Christine Bott and Richard Kemp. She addresses Richard and Christine’s aspiration to bring about positive change in the world using LSD which led to their eventual arrest following involvement in an LSD production and distribution network. At the time, however it was not uncommon for there to be a separation from LSD funders and manufacturers with distributors and dealers. Kate, therefore, further reflects on her own personal experiences with having fallen victim to the drug trade and trafficking at a young age and how this impacted on her experiences going forwards. Kate further reflects on the historical issues in treating mental health conditions and the current limitations of this, drawing further upon Christine and Richards aspirations for LSD.

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The Club of Rome report

Carl Rogers 

Carl Rogers 2

LSD 

Cannabis

Albert Hoffman 

University Occupation for Palestine 

The Million Man March

Martin Luther king

Death of the Family, David Cooper

PTSD 

Gabor Mate

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Facebook

Blog

You Tube Channel

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In this episode we meet with Dr Julie Holland. 

She discussed how MDMA influenced her career and inspired her to investigate its therapeutic potential. Controversially, she has investigated the effect of MDMA in schizophrenia and its potential in preventing paranoia and inhibiting auditory hallucinations during its effects. 

Dr Holland touches upon debate subjects such as the likelihood of addiction following consumption of MDMA as well as classifications of various substances under regulatory bodies. 

Finally, Dr Holland highlights the ‘alpha bias’ in current clinical research as expressed through her book ‘moody bitches’ and indicates the implications this could have.

Moody Bitches Book

Good Chemistry book

Maps 

Mdma

Mescaline

PCP

LSD

Cannabis

Fentanyl

Benzodiazapines

Ketamine

Psilocybin

Psilocybin psychotherapy

Schizophrenia

Anxiety

PTSD

Eating Disorders

Rosalind Watts

Norman Ohler

Telehealth Ketamine Study

Become a Drug Science Community Member

 In this episode, we meet with Dr. Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy in Auckland. Dr. Muthukumaraswamy discusses his early research, exploring the functional connectivity of substances like DMT and Ketamine. He proceeds to share insights into his breakthrough realisation regarding the disparity between the self-reported success of microdosing outside the lab setting and why it has failed to be replicated in controlled research settings. Finally, he shares his opinions on recent developments of drug policy in Australia and the prospects of New Zealand adopting a similar policy.

Ketamine

DMT

LSD

Fmri

MEG

EEG

PET

5-HT Receptor

Microdosing

Neuroplasticity

Endocrine

Menstural Cycle Hormones

Australia Law on MDMA and Psilocybin

Research

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Professor Mitul Mehta explains how his studies in neuroscience and the role of dopamine in learning and memory led to his own career in neuroimaging. He offers an overview of what neuroimaging entails and how these scans can contribute to the advancement of research. 

Drawing from his latest research centred around Schizophrenia, Mitul delves into our understanding of drug interactions within the brain and how these can be used in drug development.

Dopamine

Dopaminergic system

Executive function

Episodic memory

Brain imaging

Lesion Study

Pet scanner

Temporal resolution

Fmri

MRI

Receptors

neurons

Blood Brain Barrier

Ketamine

Cocaine

Psilocybin

Schizophrenia

In this episode, Prof Neill and Dr Thurgur meet with Dr Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist known for studying social behaviour and psychedelic drugs. Together, they explore the role of critical periods in trauma and mental health; following the potential of Psychedelics in reopening critical periods which were previously thought to be closed, they debate whether a critical period closing is ever truly permanent.

Critical period

Sensitive period

Lorenz 1935

MDMA

cocaine

Oxytocin

Ibogaine

psilocybin

Theory of mind

Albert Hofmann

Schizophrenia

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In this episode, Prof Nutt meets with German author Norman Ohler as he speaks about his new book “Tripped” which addresses drug use in post-Nazi Germany. Ohler shares how a secret history held back therapeutic research of psychedelic drugs for decades and eventually Nazi policies became part of the foundation of America’s War on Drugs. Ohler discusses theories as to why substances have been omitted from certain parts of history. This episode delves into deep debates regarding the weaponisation of substances within war environments, touching upon the CIA’s attempts to weaponise psychedelics such as LSD in their MK Ultra experiments. 

Methamphetamine

Amphetamine

Blitzkrieg

Blitzed – drugs in nazi Germany book

LSD

Tripped

Cocaine

Albert Hofmann

Psychedelics David Nutt

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On the 100th Episode of the Drug Science podcast, Prof David Nutt meets with Dr James Rucker to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maudsley Hospital. James shares his experiences as one of the first clinicians in a psychedelic study hosted by David Nutt before explaining his own personal journey into psychedelic research. 

Starting from a PhD in Genetics, James’ interest shifted, becoming increasingly interested in psychiatry and discusses his research into psilocybin regarding both its optimum dosage as well as its effectiveness in treatment resistant depression.

Depression

Maudsley Hospital

Maudsley Hospital Psychedelic Research

NIHR

Compass pathways

Psilocybin

Magic medicine documentary

Mdma 

Dmt 

Ketamine

MAPS

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In this episode, we meet with Jane Slater, co-founder of Anyone’s Child and Anne Marie, a mother who tragically lost her child, Martha, to an accidental overdose. Anne and Jane discuss the consequences of drug policy failures and the need for safe drug use education, drawing in on Anne’s personal journey. She discusses the pain of losing a loved one to a preventable drug related death and how this pain led to the start of Anyone's Child - creating a voice for those who have been directly impacted by drug policy failures and are now calling for the legal control and regulation of the drug market.

Anyone's child

Transform drugs

Anyone's Child Get involved

Release Harm Reduction Advice

Drug information

Ecstasy

Heroin

Overdose prevention centres

The loop

How to regulate psychedelics book

Good Morning Britain 

Dealing with grief

UNGAS 2016

In this week's episode, we feature John Marks, an Addiction Psychologist who spearheaded the Merseyside experiment in northwest England from 1982 to 1995. Throughout this 13-year period, Marks fearlessly operated clinics in Liverpool, basing his practice on the long-term maintenance prescribing of opiates to opiate users.

The high media profile of his work, set against the backdrop of febrile local politics in Liverpool, brought immense political pressure. This pressure eventually led to the closure of the clinics.

Tune in to this episode as John Marks shares his first-hand experiences, recounting the challenges, triumphs, and controversies surrounding his work on the experiment. He provides insights into the intricacies of the UK's drug laws and discusses their impact on his experiment.

Alcohol 

heroin

Misuse of drugs act 1971

The ‘Classic paper’ – The North Wind and the Sun

Accidy, Addiction and the Prohibition

Electroencephalographic Correlates of Psychometry

EEG and Psychometry

The Cartesian Bridge: On the Psychology of Consciousness and the Psychopathology of Addiction and Schizophrenia

North wind and the sun

County lines

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In this episode, we meet with Patrick Cox, a fashion designer with a background collaborating with Vivianne Westwood. Patrick shares his personal journey from his lifestyle in fashion, led to confronting deep-seated intergenerational trauma. Patrick opens up about undertaking the highly secretive Hoffman Process, and the transformative impact this had on him. From there, he further recounts his journey through the healing use of psychedelics, emphasising the transformative power of ego death. Patrick highlights how this journey led to him becoming a 5-MeO facilitator, and guiding others through these healing experiences.

5-MEO

Vivienne Westwood

The Hoffman process

Christopher Hitchens

LSD

Cannabis

Ayahuasca 

Ego Death

Hermet phase

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In this episode, David Nutt meets with Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the Independent and Evening Standard newspaper. Lebedev shares his transformative journey during his first Ayahuasca ceremony in Costa Rica. Throughout the episode, Lebedev not only shares insight into the ceremony's practices but also describes each personal ayahuasca experience and the themes that tied them together. He highlights his revelations resulting from the ceremony and they discuss the potential of psychedelics within healing practices. 

Ayahuasca

Psilocybin

LSD

DMT

Small Pharma

Medical Cannabis

Vietnam hippies

OCD

Depression

Dr Gabor Mate

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In the last episode of our live series, David meets with Sorcha as she explains her ongoing research into using low dose psilocybin in treating OCD. She discusses the pre-existing treatment paradigms for OCD and highlights the potential benefits of Psilocybin assisted psychotherapy in future treatment. She overviews her current study and the theories behind it. 

Schizophrenia

OCD

Psilocybin

SSRI              

Neuroplasticity

The Mushroom Cure

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Tomasso discusses his journey on how he became interested in neuroscience and how that lead to him becoming involved with the UK's leading Psychedelic Research Centre. He discusses the potential of psychedelics in promoting positive sexual wellbeing and healthy relationships. He discusses research into the advantages of using psilocybin as an alternative to SSRI’s as well as the potential uses of MDMA in promoting communication within relationships.  

DMT

5-MEO DMT

Psilocybin

MDMA

MAPS

Treatment resistant PTSD

Oxytocin

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David talks to Hannah, a 3rd year PhD student as she discusses her research into using psychedelics to treat eating disorders. She highlights how following personal experiences she came to find current treatment methods for anorexia were not sufficient and instead began conducting her own research with Imperial College London to investigate psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat eating disorders. Hannah explains the theories underlying this research as well as the neuroplasticity following from psilocybin which may increase its effectiveness in mental health treatment

Anorexia

Eating disorder 

Serotonin

ayahuasca

Psilocybin

Neuroplasticity

Become a Drug Science Community Member

In the first of our LIVE Psilocybin Series, David Nutt speaks to Rayyan Zafar a final year PhD student at Imperial College London.  Rayyan discusses his interest of the connection between the mind and the brain and how it led to his research into using psychedelics to treat addiction. Rayyan delves into various behavioural and neurochemical theories into why dependency occurs and highlights neuroimaging studies which indicate these varied reactions. He further goes on to discuss his current research in using psychedelics to treat addiction and why this treatment is proven to be so successful.

Addiction

MDMA

Cocaine

LSD

Psilocybin 

Ketamine

Neurotransmitters

Dopamine

Compass Pathways

Bill Wilson AA Psychedelics

Become a drug science community member

In this episode, Josh Hardman, the founder of Psychedelic Alpha, explores the multitude of challenges currently being encountered by the psychedelic industry. He engages in discussions regarding the progress of decriminalisation and legalisation initiatives, upcoming clinical trial milestones, and delves into the current state and the potential evolution of the Psychedelic industry.

Psychedelic Alpha

MDMA

Psilocybin

GHB

Cannabis

DMT

Psychoplastogens

MAPS

COMPASS Pathways

NICE

Oregon Psilocybin Services

In this episode, Prof Jo Neill and Dr Hannah Thurgur sit down with Dustin Robinson, the visionary founding partner of Mr. Cannabis Law and a co-founder of Mr. Psychedelics Law. These law firms possess the expertise needed to navigate the intricate and strictly regulated realms of cannabis and psychedelics, addressing a wide range of legal and business challenges within these unique industries.

Their discussion covers a range of thought-provoking topics, including US drug policy and reform, the intricate relationship between mental health and these substances, issues around integration of indigenous psychedelics into Western medicine, and the challenges surrounding research funding.

Mr Cannabis Law

Mr Psychedelic Law

Adventure Capital Firm

Ketamine

Psilocybin

MDMA

DMT

PTSD

Ketamine

Telehealth

Small Pharma

MAPS MDMA Trial

Compass Pathways

Decriminalise Nature

The Beckley Foundation 

Awakn

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Recorded live from the launch event of David Nutt's latest book, "Psychedelics: The Revolutionary Drugs That Could Change Your Life – a guide from the expert," in this episode Dr. David Erritzoee and David Nutt engage in a discussion about Psychedelics. During the conversation, David Nutt provides valuable insights into the research that initially ignited his interest in Psychedelics and narrates his career journey from chairing the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to becoming a co-chair of Drug Science.

Psychedelics: The revolutionary drugs that could change your life – a guide from the expert

Sentia

Psilocybin

MDMA

Antidepressants 

Depression

LSD 

DMT 

Ayahuasca

Amphetamine

Nitrous Oxide

Ketamine

Cannabis

Equasy — An overlooked addiction with implications for the current debate on drug harms

Australia using MDMA and Psilocybin as Medicine

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In this episode, Mike Jay explores the contents of his latest book titled "Psychonaut," which offers a thought-provoking and unique account of the scientists, writers, artists, and philosophers who engaged in drug exploration to uncover the enigmatic realms of the mind. The podcast delves into the historical perspective of psychedelics, shedding light on the evolving societal perceptions of these substances. Moreover, it seeks to rediscover a forgotten intellectual legacy of drug experimentation that contributed to the development of psychology, the exploration of the unconscious, and the rise of modernism.

The High Society book 

Mescaline Book

Psychonauts Book

Brave New World Book

The Doors of Perception Book

Cocaine Papers Sigmund Freud 

Alcohol

Cocaine

Nitrous Oxide

Cannabis

LSD

Addiction

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In this episode, Meg Spriggs shares her firsthand experience dealing with the challenges mental health while pursuing her studies in academia. She candidly talks about the difficulties she faced with anorexia and mood disorders which led to her investigating the potential of psilocybin for treating Anorexia Nervosa. 

During the discussion, Meg reveals the shame she felt was associated with various mental health conditions and the consecutive impact this had on her; emphasising the significance of open communication when it comes to mental health, stressing the need for more dialogue and understanding in both the workforce and academia. Additionally, she underscores the importance of prioritising overall wellbeing within these environments.
 

Anorexia Nervosa

Psilocybin

Antidepressants

Beat Eating Disorder Support

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Meg’s Writing 

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