The Drug Science Podcast

In this episode, Jo Neil, and Hannah Thurger are joined by Danny Ahmed, a highly experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse and Integrated Psychotherapist with over two decades of expertise. Together, they delve into a comprehensive discussion on a variety of harm reduction techniques. 

Throughout the episode, Danny shares his wealth of insights into the complex world of harm reduction. The conversation spans a broad spectrum of topics, including drug consumption rooms, the notion of ‘recovery’ and women who use drugs amongst much more. Danny offers an enlightening look into the multifaceted world of harm reduction. His expertise not only illuminates effective strategies but also underscores the importance of employing compassionate and empathetic approaches when supporting individuals on their path to well-being.

Harm reduction

Naloxone

MDMA

Heroin 

Cocaine

Alcohol

Benzodiazapines

Methadone

Fentanyl

Buprenorphine

Synthetic opioids

Overdose prevention centres

RIOTT trials 

Project ADDER

Alcoholics Anonymous

Polydrug use

Naloxone

Order Naloxone

Buddyup App

Support the Podcast

In this episode, Professr Valerie Curran, discusses the psychological effects of drugs that act on the human brain. 

Valerie Curren holds the position of Professorial Fellow in the Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program at ACU's Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre. She has an esteemed background as an Emeritus Professor of Psychopharmacology at University College London (UCL), having established the UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit in 1996. Furthermore, she is a founding member of the charity Drug Science and serves as an advisor to the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform.

Tune in to learn about her latest research into the short- and long-term effects of psychoactive drugs on mental health, cognition, memory and the brain as well as how CBD combined with psychological therapy may aid the treatment of cannabis use disorder.

Benzos

MDMA

Alcohol

Cannabis

CBD

THC

Ketamine

MDMA midweek blues paper – in journal Addiction (mid 90s) 

Inappropriate benzodiazepine use in elderly patients and its reduction 

Combined and individual effects of CBD and THC on memory

David Nutt and Psilocybin in Australia  

Cannabis potency

CBD treating clinical psychosis

CBD in treating cannabis use disorder

Project 2021

Medical cannabis reducing opiate use

Jon snow takes cannabis 

Endocannabinoid system

Support the podcast

Join us for an insightful episode featuring Dr. Carol Routledge, a distinguished senior scientist and the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Small Pharma Labs. Dr. Routledge takes us on a journey through her remarkable career path that ultimately led her to work at Small Pharma. With a wealth of experience in both preclinical and clinical settings, she has delved into psychiatric and neurological indications, honing her expertise in understanding and treating mental health disorders.

In this conversation, Dr. Carol Routledge draws upon her extensive clinical and psychedelic research background to shed light on the latest developments in DMT research and psychedelic integration therapy. With her profound insights, we explore the potential of these groundbreaking approaches to become formal medicines, revolutionizing the field of mental health treatment.

Tune in as Dr. Carol Routledge shares her passion for advancing mental health treatments through innovative research.

DMT 

Depression

Serotonin

Nor adrenaline 

Small Pharma

Chris Timmermann - Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI

CMC 

British technology group (BTG)

SSRI 

Psychedelic experience

Alzheimers research uk 

In this episode, Peter Hunt discusses the journey which led himself and his wife co-founding Mind Medicine in Australia. Mind Medicine work to alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and patients, particularly through the establishment of safe and effective psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Delving into the heart of their mission, Peter Hunt explores the groundbreaking potential of psychedelic-assisted treatments in addressing a wide range of mental illnesses. Mind Medicine Australia's commitment to providing accessible and innovative therapies shines through every step of their path.

Peter delves into a comprehensive discussion of the recent developments surrounding the rescheduling of Psilocybin in Australia, shedding light on both the obstacles faced and the triumphs achieved throughout the process.

Trigger Warning: Sexual assault and rape

Mind Medicine

MDMA

Psilocybin

Depression

Alcohol

Addiction

PTSD

Childhood abuse

SSRI antidepressants

Covid-19

Anorexia

Therapeutic goods administration

Australia Psilocybin Rescheduling

This weeks Podcast features Frédéric Destrebecq and Tadeusz Hawrot as they discuss the latest developments in research and clinical development with psychedelics in Europe.

Frédéric Destrebecq is the Executive Director of the European Brain Council (EBC), a non-profit organization based in Brussels, Belgium. The EBC is a network of organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting brain research, raising awareness about brain disorders, and advocating for better policies and funding for brain-related issues at the European level. As the Executive Director, Frédéric Destrebecq leads the organization's efforts in advocating for brain research and policy development, facilitating collaborations, and coordinating initiatives to improve brain health and well-being across Europe.

Tadeusz Hawrot is involved in the European federation of neurological associations and the founder and Executive Director of PAREA Science. The Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA) is a multistakeholder alliance bringing together organizations representing EU-wide patient advocacy groups, professional organizations, umbrella alliances, psychedelic foundations, and companies active in the field, advocating for implementing safe, effective and accessible psychedelic assisted therapies in Europe.

Live Drug Science Podcast Recording in London 

PAREA 

European Brain council 

European Federation of Neurological Associations 

The Value of Treatment Project 

Maps MDMA phase 3 trial 

Compass Pathways 

Small Pharma 

Politico 

Lancet 

Horizon 

MDMA 

Support the Podcast 

This weeks podcast features Rory Lamont, a former professional Rugby Union player, as he discusses his experiences discovering the transformative healing potential of plant medicines such as Iboga and Ayahuasca.

During the 2012 Six Nations tournament, while playing for Scotland, Rory suffered a severe leg break that brought his career to an end. Subsequently, he faced a debilitating health crisis that disrupted his life and vitality. As mainstream medicine failed to provide adequate assistance, Rory sought alternative healing methods.  This experience marked a significant shift in his self-awareness and improvement in his overall well-being.

Six Nations: Scotland shock as Rory Lamont suffers broken leg during defeat to France 

Scottish psychedelic research group 

Jo Rogan and Aubrey Marcus Podcast 

Benzos 

Opioids 

Psilocybin 

Ibogaine 

Iboga ceremony 

Ayahuasca 

Psychedelic Integration 

Ayahuasca Ceremony 

Link for the drug science event 

Support the Podcast 

In this week's episode of the Drug Science Podcast, Prof Nutt and Dr Thurgur are joined by Dr Evan Lewis of Numinus!

Dr. Evan Lewis is a Paediatric Neurologist and Clinical Neurophysiologist with expertise in epilepsy, epilepsy surgery, electroencephalography (EEG), tele-neurology and medical cannabis for the treatment of neurologic disorders. He is the director of the Neurology Centre of Toronto (NCT) which he established in January 2017. At NCT, Dr. Lewis treats children with a variety of neurological disorders and he also treats adults for concussions, headaches and epilepsy.

In addition to this, Dr Lewis is the Vice President of Psychedelic Neurology at Numinus. 

His research area of interest (and the topic of this podcast episode) is cannabis and psychedelic-related neurology, for the treatment of epilepsy & other neurological conditions and the delivery of novel virtual care models in neurology.

In this week’s episode, join Professor David Nutt as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr Alex Wodak, an internationally renowned authority on harm reduction and the esteemed president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation. With a rich background as the former director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, Australia, Dr Wodak has been instrumental in pioneering groundbreaking initiatives such as Australia's inaugural needle exchange program and the first-ever Australian medically supervised injecting center in Kings Cross, Sydney.

While Dr Wodak's expertise is widely recognised in the realm of drug policy and harm reduction, this podcast episode takes a compelling twist as he delves into a topic of immense global significance—the harm reduction approach to one of the most pervasive and widely used substances: tobacco. With an unwavering focus on promoting public health and minimising the detrimental impact of addictive substances, Dr Wodak shares his profound insights on the subject. 

Throughout the episode, listeners will have the opportunity to explore the nuances surrounding tobacco consumption. Dr Wodak's analysis sheds light on the complexities that contribute to the enduring prevalence of smoking, despite the well-documented health risks and the availability of potential alternatives. From psychological, sociocultural, and economic factors to the powerful grip of addiction, this thought-provoking conversation delves into the multifaceted reasons why individuals continue to smoke. 

Alex Wodak

Harm reduction

Roger Williams

Kaposi's sarcoma

National Institutes of Health

FDA

Anthony Fauci

Harm Reduction International

Scurvy

Andre Calantzopoulos

Psychoactive podcast

Hon Lik

Heated Tobacco Products

China National Tobacco Corporation

Join us on this enlightening episode of the Drug Science podcast as we delve into the fascinating world of serotonergic pathways and their potential applications in treating psychiatric disorders and combating inflammation. Our special guest, Charles Nichols, a distinguished professor of pharmacology at LSU New Orleans, shares his groundbreaking research on the psychedelic 5-HT2A serotonin receptor.

During our conversation, we explore the intricate relationship between the 5-HT2A receptor and its role in both anti-inflammation and the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Charles Nichols guides us through the mechanisms behind these processes, shedding light on how psychedelics like LSD can play a crucial role in modulating the 5-HT2A receptor.

Drawing from his innovative studies, Charles Nichols reveals a surprising avenue of research involving the administration of LSD to depressed fruit flies. We uncover the intriguing results of these experiments and discuss the implications they hold for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying depression and potential treatments.

As we venture further into our conversation, we explore the broader implications of Charles Nichols' work, touching on the potential of psychedelics in revolutionizing mental health treatments and redefining our understanding of brain function. We examine the challenges and prospects of translating this research into practical therapies for individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders.

Tune in to this thought-provoking episode of the Drug Science podcast to discover the cutting-edge advancements in psychedelic research, and gain a deeper appreciation for the therapeutic potential of serotonergic pathways in treating mental health disorders and combating inflammation.

British Association for Psychopharmacology

Serotonin 5-HT2a receptor

David Nichols

Serotonin 

Dopamine

Elaine Sanders-Bush

5-HT2C receptor

Functional selectivity

Porsolt forced swimming test

LSD

Psilocybin

Cocaine

Metamphetamine

Tryptophan

Citalopram

2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI)

TNF-alpha

Interleukin 6 (IL6)

Stephania Cormier

Timothy Foster

DMT

Microglia

Is depression evolutionary? Is inflammation good or bad? Can sleep be bad for you? Tune in to find out. 

Depression is a complex and debilitating mental health disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite the prevalence of depression, its causes and origins are still not entirely understood. In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we explore the evolutionary perspective on depression with renowned psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Charles Raison.

Dr. Charles Raison is a psychiatrist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University. Having moved from the field of anthropology into psychiatry, Dr. Raison is now internationally recognized for his studies examining novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. 

The New Mind-Body Science of Depression

Andrew H. Miller  

Interferon alpha

Paroxetine for the prevention of depression induced by high-dose interferon alfa

Infliximab 

Tumor necrosis factor

A randomized controlled trial of the tumor necrosis factor antagonist infliximab for treatment-resistant depression: the role of baseline inflammatory biomarkers

Antidepressant treatment resistance is associated with increased inflammatory markers in patients with major depressive disorder

Burning down the house: reinventing drug discovery in psychiatry for the development of targeted therapies 

CRP 

Interleukin 6 (IL-6)

Interleukin 1 beta

Wim Hof

Pivotal mental states

Usona Institute

COMPASS Pathways

Centre for Psychedelics and Spirituality 

Psilocybin 

MAPS

MDMA

Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression

5-MeO-DMT

Sleeping with one eye open: loneliness and sleep quality in young adults

Are you curious about the impact of drug policies on marginalized communities? Then tune in to this week's episode of our podcast! Our guest, Kassandra Frederique, the Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, joins Dr. Hannah Thurgur to discuss the impact of drug policies on Black, Latino, Indigenous, immigrant, and LGBTQ communities. 

You'll also discover how the Drug Policy Alliance is working to build alternatives grounded in justice and equity. Join us to explore how we can end the war on drugs not just in the US, but worldwide. Listen now!

Through innovative campaigns on policing, overdose crises, and marijuana legalization, Kassandra has been fighting for justice and equity in drug policies. Her work lies at the intersection of science, compassion, health, and human rights. With her guidance, the Drug Policy Alliance has been mobilizing cities to rethink their approach to drug policy from the ground up.

Rudy Giuliani 

 Lindesmith Center

 Supervised Consumption Centers in New York

 Transform Drug Policy Foundation

 Release

 Regulating Right, Repairing Wrongs: Exploring Equity and Social Justice Initiatives within UK Cannabis Reform

 Scottish overdose prevention service

 Methadone

Narcan

T21 (formerly Project Twenty21) is a pioneering medical cannabis registry launched in the United Kingdom in 2019. It aims to create the UK's largest body of evidence for the effectiveness and tolerability of medical cannabis in treating a range of conditions.

T21 focuses on patients with conditions that can be treated with medical cannabis such as chronic pain, anxiety conditions, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tourette's syndrome, and substance use disorder. A list of conditions that qualify for medical cannabis treatment can be found here. The registry provides patients with access to discounted medical cannabis from licensed producers and clinicians who have undergone training in the use of medical cannabis while collecting data to strengthen the evidence base The project is seen as a significant step forward in promoting research into the potential therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis, and in improving patient access to this treatment option in the UK.

In this very special episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we will be joined by three members of the Drug Science team: 

David Badcock – Chief Executive Officer of Drug Science

Prof Michael Lynskey – Chief Research Officer

Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli – Research Officer for T21 

 *Please note that in this episode we make reference to a medical cannabis legal document that will be provided in the shownotes, this document is VERY close to being finished but it needs a few last-minute reviews to ensure that all of the information is 100% accurate, we appreciate your patience.

Meet the presenters!

Find out more about T21  

David Nutt >< David Badcock Hepatitis C project 

T21 latest data & data nuggets

T21 publications:

·         Medication sparing after medical cannabis initiation: A case study of a chronic pain patient in Project Twenty21

·         Developing a real-world evidence base for prescribed cannabis in the United Kingdom: preliminary findings from Project Twenty21

·         Characteristics of People Seeking Prescribed Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Chronic Pain: Evidence From Project Twenty 21

·         The value of real world evidence: The case of medical cannabis

·         Preliminary findings from project Twenty21 Australia: An observational study of patients prescribed medicinal Cannabis for chronic pain, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and multiple sclerosis

Are you curious about the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy? Tune in to this week's episode of our podcast, where we have a fascinating conversation with Dr. Graham Campbell, a renowned consultant psychiatrist and researcher in the field.

Drawing from his extensive experience in both psychedelic research and clinical work, Dr. Campbell shares his insights on a range of topics. Discover his thoughts on the possibility of introducing psychedelic treatments by the NHS, the differences between magic mushrooms and DMT in the treatment of depression, and the crucial role of music in a psychedelic journey.

Join us for an engaging and informative discussion on the cutting-edge of psychedelic-assisted therapy, with one of the leading experts in the field. Don't miss out - listen to our latest episode now!

 Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

 Small Pharma

 DMT

 Ketamine

 Intranasal Esketamine (SpravatoTM) for Use in Treatment-Resistant Depression In Conjunction With an Oral Antidepressant

 Schizophrenia

 Bipolar disorder

 Schizoaffective disorder

 Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression

 Rosalind Watts

 Michelle Baker Jones

 Roberta Murphy 

 Jonny Martell

 Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner

 Psilocybin

 Institute of Psychedelic Therapy

 The Readiness of Psychiatrists to Implement Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

 Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

 Ayahuasca

 Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

 Serotonin 

 The ACE Model

 The hidden therapist: evidence for a central role of music in psychedelic therapy

 Max Cooper

 Music and the Mind by Anthony Storr

 Mind Foundation

 Maria Papaspyrou

Welcome to season 4 of the Drug Science Podcast! In this episode, we're introducing our new hosts: Professor Jo Neill and Dr Hannah Thurgur! 

Jo Neill is a professor of psychopharmacology at the University of Manchester and the chair of the Medical Psychedelics Working Group of Drug Science. Following years of clinical and scientific experience, Jo decided to focus on spreading knowledge about the use of psychedelic medicines to tackle the mental health crisis head-on!

Hannah Thurgur is a doctor of neuroscience. After finishing her studies her research focus shifted from the lab to working with patients in clinical trials involving medical cannabis and psychedelics. She is the study coordinator for the Drug Science Long Covid study which aims to test a high cannabidiol (CBD) containing medical cannabis oil to see if it can improve the symptoms of this challenging condition.

Tune in to meet Jo and Hannah and hear about the upcoming events, podcasts, and plans for Drug Science!

This week we present you with part 2 of the podcast recorded live at the book launch of 'Drug Science and British Drug Policy’. We’re going to hear panel discussions on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and different approaches to drug policy with co-authors of the book. This time, professor David Nutt will talk with Niamh Eastwood (Release), Steve Rolles (Transform drug policy foundation), and Cara Lavan (Anyone’s Child). 

Naloxone 

Sentia GABA Spirit

The Numbers in Black And White: Ethnic Disparities In The Policing And Prosecution Of Drug Offences In England And Wales

Drugs, Crime and Public Health: The Political Economy of Drug Policy

The Loop

Lewisham Diversion Scheme

Utrecht MDMA shop

Legal Regulation of Drugs in Colombia

Synthetic cannabinoids

The House I Live In

Crack cocaine

Strip search 

Stop and search 

This week we present you with a podcast recorded live at the book launch of ‚Drug Science and British drug policy’. We’re going to hear panel discussions on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and different approaches to drug policy with co-authors of the book. In part 1 professor David Nutt will talk with Prof Alex Stevens (Professor in Criminal Justice), Prof Val Curran (Professor of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology), and Roz Gittins (Director of Pharmacy). Tune in to hear about 50 years of failed drug policy, and what you can do to influence change. 

Drug Science and British Drug Policy: Critical Analysis of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Sentia GABA Spirit

Professor Alex Stevens

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Ecstasy (MDMA)

‚Drug policy ratchet’

Cannabinoid

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Harm reduction 

The Drugtakers. The Social Meaning of Drug Use by Jock Young

Overdose prevention centre (OPC)

Foil for harm reduction

Baroness Wootton of Abinger

Dame Carol Black

Controlled Drug Classes

Ronnie Cowan

National Institute of Drug Abuse

Drug Science Student Society Network

Heroin

Naloxone

Human psychobiology of MDMA or 'Ecstasy': an overview of 25 years of empirical research by Andrew Parrott 

George Ricaurte MDMA Research Controversy 

Nitrous oxide

Sadiq Khan plans pilot to ‘decriminalise’ minor cannabis offences in London

Intranasal Naloxone 

Khat

Dr Gillian Shorter is currently a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, with 17 years’ research experience on substance use and allied works. Her main research focus is supporting people who use drugs or alcohol who are not seeking formal treatment. She led the evaluation of the UK’s first unsanctioned drug consumption site in Glasgow, Scotland run by Peter Krykant, and has an interest in developing models for overdose prevention centres including community engagement, evaluation, understanding, and delivery in partnerships with people who have lived or living experience of substance use.

Matt Southwell is a high-level advocate, technical advisor and drug user activist. He was one of the UK’s first generation of harm reduction workers in the late 1980s founding the pioneering and award-winning Healthy Options Team (HOT). In 1999 Mat decided to come out publicly as a drug user on a BBC documentary leading to dismissal from his position in the NHS Drug Services and the loss of his successful private consulting firm. Since this time Mat has supported drug user organisations and led different drug user networks from the local to the global level. Mat is currently Project Manager for the European Network of People who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD).

Is the UK on its way to opening first official drug injection sites? How can one influence police officials and politicians to lobby for a positive change? How effective are these solutions in preventing drug related deaths?

Tune in to listen to this highly insightful and simply important episode. 

EuroNPUD

Supervised Injection Facilities

Harm reduction

coAct

Overdose Prevention Centres

Needle and syringe programmes

Reducing drug-related harms in Sandwell: the need and feasibility of an overdose prevention service

Opioid agonist therapy

Methadone 

Buprenorphine

Diamorphine (Heroin-assisted treatment)

Drug Science Enhanced Harm Reduction Working Group 

Illicit drugs classification in the UK

Peter Krykant

CAS Baluard Barcelona

Drug consumption rooms

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Libby and Ben are third-year students from Swansea University and the University of York, who are deeply interested in the use of psychedelics in medicine and drug policy. At their universities, they are presidents of their respective Psychedelics in Medicine societies which raise awareness on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs among fellow students. Tune in to the episode to find out about their journeys into the world of Drug Science and how to get involved yourself! 

Get in touch with the Student Society Network! 

Find out more about the Drug Science Student Society Network 

Psychedelics in Medicine Podcast

Serotonin

Neuroscientifically Challenged

Psilocybin 

LSD

Ben Sessa

MDMA

MDMA and psychotherapy in alcohol dependence treatment

Brain on LSD imaging

Psycare

Drugs Harm Scale

Project Twenty21

Drug Science Student Society Network

Brain and Mind Made Simple by David Nutt

UK Patient Conference: Medical Cannabis Awareness Week 2022

Medical cannabis awareness week 

Anything Can Happen

Secondary School Education Resources

Transform Drugs

Anyone’s Child

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Harm Reduction

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Mattha Busby is a freelance journalist for publications including the Guardian, Observer, London Times, Vice, Jacobin and Leafly. Based in Mexico, Mattha writes about health, drugs, nutrition, human rights, blockchain, the environment, and events in Latin America. 'Should All Drugs Be Legalized?’ reads the title of his first book, listen to this week’s episode to find out the answer!

Should All Drugs Be Legalized

Mexican drug war

Medical cannabis

Oaxaca 

Awakn Life Sciences Group

Ibogaine

Ayahuasca

Psilocybin 

Jamaican Psilocybin Retreats

Maria Sabina

Peyote

R. Gordon Wasson

“Seeking the Magic Mushroom” by Gordon Wasson

Mezcal 

Cocaine

The Peyote Dance

Aldous Huxley

‘I’m a lighter me’: Can Mike Tyson and psychedelics help boxers with brain trauma?

Hunter S. Tompson

Mexico’s Supreme Court rules personal marijuana possession legal, again

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán

Jalisco New Generation Cartel

Dutch Ecstasy “Shop”

MDMA

LSD could help alcoholics stop drinking, AA founder believed

Mick Lynch

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This week’s episode features Andrew Gold of the On the Edge with Andrew Gold podcast. Andrew Gold is a journalist and TV presenter who lived in 6 countries, producing documentaries on bizarre and controversial subcultures. His documentaries range from the award-winning Exorcism: The Battle for Young Minds to stories on hunted UFOs. 

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