The Drug Science Podcast 151u4t

us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, where we talk with Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, Director of Research for Heroic Hearts Project UK, Chief Scientific Officer of NW PharmaTech, and founder and CEO of Hystelica. In the episode, she explore where psychedelic studies have largely ignored women’s physiology, particularly in failing to acknowledge and control for hormonal fluctuations. Grace particularly emphasises the necessity for greater investigations and understandings around the intersection of psychedelics and the menstrual cycle, explaining how Hystelica attempts to bridge this gap with naturalistic and observational studies. Throughout, the discussion examines how, by researching these unknowns, we can discover new treatment opportunities that better serve women’s health. Heroic Hearts Project UK Hystelica NWPharmaTech MDMA Psilocybin Retreats Study Mothers of the mushroom Microdosing Study ★ this podcast ★

In this latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we talk with Natalia Rebollo and Jesús Alonso Olamendi of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS). They discuss the lasting legacy of colonialism in the psychedelic culture of indigenous communities, stressing the need for the sacredness of these substances to be uplifted and not commodified. Throughout, they explore their work with ICEER’s Ayahuasca Defense Fund and how it has begun to change the narrative surrounding psychedelics in prohibitionist countries. Operating between indigenous communities and the Western world, they provide a unique perspective that shows how both communities can learn from each other.   ICEERS Ayahuasca Defense Fund Ayahuasca DMT Ayahuasca Legal Battle in Technical Report on Ayahuasca Colombia's CND68 Resolution Ibogaine Spanish Ibogaine Trial Email ★ this podcast ★

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where David Nutt meets with Tim Kerr, a doctoral research student in Psychiatry at King’s College London. Tim discusses his journey from slowly falling into drug addiction and dealing whilst studying for his medical degree eventually leading to arrest and imprisonment. Tim shares how he used this time in an open prison to apply for and study a Neuroscience masters with Kings College London with the of the Longford trust, a charity that s people with lived experience of prison to access higher education.    The Longford Trust Howard League for Penal Reform NHS Practitioner Health Alcoholic liver disease Jaundice Ecstasy Ketamine Cocaine Freud and cocaine Nitrous oxide GHB  Spice Weed Venlafaxine Modafinil  Open and closed Prison Alcoholics Anonymous ★ this podcast ★

us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast where David Nutt meets with Psychedelic psychotherapy experts Laurie Higbed and Owain Winfield to dive into how to use psychedelics in psychotherapy. In this episode, they discuss the different techniques used with different psychedelics for different conditions to optimise this type of therapy and why these differences are necessary. They discuss MDMA, Ketamine and Psilocybin in a range of applications including trauma and addictions. MDMA Ketamine Psilocybin Substance Misuse PTSD MAPS MDMA study into Substance Use Disorder Com Pathways Com Pathways Psilocybin for Treatment Resistant Depression Awakn life sciences Amygdala Link in show notes ★ this podcast ★

In this episode, we meet with Bessel van Der kolk, a trauma based psychiatrist, author, researcher and educator. Since the 1970s his research has been in the area of post-traumatic stress and he is the author of four books including best seller “the body keeps score”. Within this episode, he dives into what trauma is and different research into the impact trauma can have on the body and brain. He further discusses various traditional and alternative treatments for trauma and where these may be appropriate for different people with specific emphasis on EMDR and MDMA.       The body keeps score  Nutt's paper lancet psychiatry 50 years of failure  MDMA  SSRI EMDR  Gaba Benzodiazepines Rorschach test Norepinephrine  Bowlby  MAPS When the spirit catches you, you fall down Neuroplasticity  ★ this podcast ★

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, David Nutt meets with psychopharmacologist Phil Cowen and Psychiatrist Sameer Jauhar  to discuss the neuroscience behind and treatments for depression. Within the episode they touch on various neurotransmitters involved in depression as well as research studies into each of their impact, stigma around antidepressants and the role of psychedelics in treatment.     Depression Serotonin Tryptophan Hamilton depression scale Antidepressants Geddes paper on preventing relapse the Podcast ★ this podcast ★

In this episode of the Drug Science podcast, we speak with Josh Dugdale of the Wasing Estate, described as a "mindful aristocrat." He shares his experiences with Ayahuasca in the Amazon and how they influenced his journey upon returning to the UK. Josh discusses the creation of a mindful and spiritual festival during the pandemic, its evolution over time, and its wider impact. He also explores the challenges surrounding psilocybin access rights, the changes needed in this area, and what the future of psychedelic reform might look like. Medicine Festival  Psilocybin Access Rights Ayahuasca Psilocybin MDMA Drug Science Reschedule Psilocybin Medical Cannabis PTSD Veterans  PTSD Industrial Hemp Licensing DEFRA Subscribe to podcast   ★ this podcast ★

Prof Ravi Das is a leading expert in psychopharmacology and cognitive neuroscience, with a career dedicated to understanding and developing innovative treatments for addiction and anxiety disorders. He completed his BSc in Psychology and MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), followed by a PhD in Psychopharmacology at the UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit.   Prof Das’s research takes a translational and experimental medicine approach, focusing on the mechanisms of memory plasticity and their role in the development of addictive and anxiety disorders. A key area of his work is memory reconsolidation—the process by which established memories become temporarily unstable when retrieved, creating an opportunity to modify maladaptive memories. By targeting these unstable memories, Prof Das explores how drug or behavioral interventions could potentially disrupt the cravings and relapse associated with addiction, the fear underlying anxiety disorders, or the flashbacks experienced in PTSD.   In addition to his work on memory reconsolidation, Prof Das is deeply interested in the phenomenology and effects of illicit drug use, as well as the role of cognitive and mindfulness-based strategies in treating substance use disorders. His research bridges the gap between scientific discovery and clinical application, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective, evidence-based treatments for mental health challenges.   Prof Celia Morgan Prof Val Curran Prof Sunjeev Kamboj Memory Research and consolidation  Biggest DMT study Placebos in psychedelic clinical trials  Prof Mitul Mehta Psychedelic gold rush  RFK Jr pro-psychedelics  FDA reject Lykos decision  UNITy screening form  Wellcome Leap LSD study  Preparation for Psilocybin study UNITy ★ this podcast ★

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where we meet with Dr James Morgan, Prof Chris Chandler and Prof Jo Neill, the founders of Street Drugs Discussions (SDD). They discuss the process which led to them founding SDD, a series of webinars featuring experts on drug policy and drugs featuring topics surrounding overdose prevention centres, trafficking, specific substances and more. They reflect on the journey which got them to their current position as well as future hopes for SDD. Further, in this episode, the speakers discuss specific research conducted into long term heroin use and learning theory of addiction.      Street Drugs Discussions Buvidal  Wedinos Barod psycare Diamorphine assisted treatment Leap Neil Woods Episode Needle exchange Trainspotting Heroin Crack cocaine Nicotine Alcohol  MDMA morphine Drug Science Community Member ★ this podcast ★

A conversation between Prof David Nutt and research scientist Dr Matthew X. Lowe. Dr Matthew X. Lowe PhD is Director of Research for Realm of Caring and Executive Director for Unlimited Sciences, a not-for-profit, observational research organisation with a focus on cannabis and psychedelic use by underrepresented population groups and a toll-free info line providing evidence-based for anyone using psychedelics. In this episode, they discuss the vital role of observational and longitudinal research when it comes to the medicalisation of cannabis and psychedelics — and the importance for safetyof bringing real-world data into our collective knowledge base. They start with the genesis of Realm of Caring and Unlimited Sciences. Both organisations were conceived following first-hand experience of the banned compounds they research being profoundly medically transformative — inspiring co-founder Heather Jackson to grow related research and make it freely available to all who stand to benefit from such education. The origin stories of the organisations are followed by Dr Lowe’s personal route to his current research role and the roots of his ion for pursuing psychedelic research questions. Their focus then shifts to the present day with a comparison of roadblocks and red tape around researching cannabis and psychedelics in the UK and the US, noting the pioneering role that parents so often play in advocating for research into medicinal cannabis. Next comes a deeper exploration of specific properties of psychedelics that relate to their potential therapeutic applications, including their anti-addictive nature and positive habit-forming potential resulting from the neuroplastic window they potentiate — Unlimited Sciences has conducted the world’s largest naturalistic study on psilocybin use with further papers coming out on these implications. For the remainder of the episode, Prof David Nutt and Dr Matthew Lowe go into specifics on several key projects from Realm of Caring and Unlimited Sciences, including: -       The Realm of Caring Observational Research Registry, being done in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Cannabis Science Laboratory. This ongoing research is an IRB-approved online survey study looking at the effects on a variety of health conditions, in people who do and do not use cannabis. It is open to everyone in the world with internet access.     -       The Cannabis and Health Research Initiative (CHRI), another collaboration between Johns Hopkins and Realm of Caring, examining the patient-level impact of therapeutic cannabis use, through data collection and dissemination — aiming to aid clinical decision making and policymaking.  And finally, two ceremonial research projects looking at ayahuasca, foregrounding the role of community and context in ceremonial psychedelic experiences — both exemplifying Unlimited Sciences’ diversification of the evidence base on psychedelics by collecting real world data on underrepresented population groups:  -       With subjects who were Arabic-speaking women, a study exploring the psychological benefits of ayahuasca for refugees — with DrugScience collaborator Dr Robin Carhart-Harris.    -       And, currently in data analysis, with first results set to release in 2025, an IRB-approved study about ayahuasca use in the LGBTQIA+ community in collaboration with Costa Rica plant medicine retreat Jungle Gayborhood, with an emphasis on the importance of set and setting being truly safe spaces in the sense of meeting the specific needs of participants involved.  Find out more about Dr Matthew X. Lowe and Unlimited Sciences below!  Dr Matthew X. Lowe  Realm of Caring Unlimited Sciences  The Psychedelic Info Line Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte Figi and Realm of Caring Realm of Caring’s research library Long-term CBD study (Realm of Caring) Observational Research Registry (Realm of Caring) World’s largest naturalistic study on psilocybin use (Unlimited Sciences) Psychological benefits of ayahuasca for refugees (Unlimited Sciences) Jungle Gayborhood The LGBTQIA+ study  ★ this podcast ★

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where Prof Nutt meets with several Drug Science Community for a session of “Ask David Anything”. Together, they explore questions such as the use of cannabis as a psychoactive substance in psychedelic therapy and the latest developments in regulatory decisions on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.      Cannabis THC CBD MDMA Psilocybin Ketamine Oxford Ketamine Clinic Mike Jay Psychonaughts book Breathwork Psychedelic Cannabis book Daniel Mcqueen Treatment resistant depression PTSD Maps ★ this podcast ★

In the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, David Nutt sits down with Zoe Cormier, author of  ‘Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll’. In this episode, Zoe draws upon her two great ions of music and science and how these lead to her interest around Drugs - she discusses the current landscape of drug policy, drawing upon similarities and differences between the UK, Canada, and the US. She shares insight on the political situation in the US, with reference to recent elections and the potential impact this may have on future drug policy.     Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll Book Cannabis LSD Psilocybin MDMA DMT MDMA for PTSD MAPS Canada MAPS Incident Schizophrenia Skunk Inuits Donald Trump Joe Biden Monty Python Roald Dahl Manifest destiny Glastonbury festival Small Pharma  Fibromyalgia Breaking Convention the podcast ★ this podcast ★

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we hear from Andrew Feldmár, a psychotherapist with over 52 years of experience. He discusses his journey into psychotherapy, his departure from mainstream psychiatric and therapeutic practices rooted in the concept of mental illness, and his experiences with LSD. Feldmár also critiques various techniques used in contemporary psychedelic research and offers a fresh perspective based on what he has learnt in his years of experience.     Radical Adventure: An Inquiry into Psychedelic Psychotherapy Book Auschwitz  1956 Hungarian uprising Jon Hopkins Medical School Psycholinguistics LSD Alcohol Psilocybin Freud Timothy Leary  Aristotle the Podcast ★ this podcast ★

In this episode, Prof Neil and Dr Thurgur speak with electronic musician Jon Hopkins. Together, they explore the intersection of music, mental health, and psychedelics. Jon shares his personal journey, from his early love of music to his experiments with electronic sounds as well as discussing how experiences with meditation and psychedelics have profoundly influenced his music, shaping albums like ‘Music for Psychedelic Therapy’ and ‘Ritual’. They delve into the therapeutic potential of music, especially within psychedelic therapy, and reflect on how music can serve as a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery.   Find out more about Jon Hopkins and his music below! Jon Hopkins Ritual  Music For Psychedelic Therapy  Links Mercury prize Leo abrahams Qigong shaking practice Cannabis Mdma Michael pollan Magic mushrooms DMT TM - transcendental meditation Psilocybin Tayos caves Shuar tribe Ayahuasca Mendel kaelan wave paths East forest Ram dass Ketamine Ptsd Sit around the fire Ram dass foundation talks Spotify The icaros Ketamine therapy Psychedelic therapy Dolby atmos format Glastonbury fest Charli xcx Coldplay Brat album Kundalini yoga breathing meditation Yoga nidra Vedic mantra meditation Wim hof  Become a Drug Science Community Member Brat album Kundalini yoga breathing meditation Yoga nidra Vedic mantra meditation Wim hof  Become a Drug Science Community Member ★ this podcast ★

In this episode, Prof Nutt meets with Prof Alex Stevens, researcher in drug policy, treatment and harm reduction and Gillian Shorter, a researcher into the health and wellbeing of people who use alcohol and drugs.  In this episode they discuss harm reduction strategies in the UK. They delve into the root causes of the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and explore the effectiveness of various harm reduction approaches, such as needle exchange programs and drug consumption rooms. The conversation also considers the politics surrounding these strategies and the limitations imposed by the Misuse of Drugs Act.       Drug consumption Rooms BBC Drug Science Enhanced Harm Reduction Working Group Needle Exchange Naloxone Drug Consumption Room High Tolerance Housing The Merseyside Model Drug Testing Drug Testing Kits International Harm Reduction Association HIV and AIDS Opiate Substitution Therapy Winter Comfort Case the Podcast ★ this podcast ★

What is the UK medical cannabis industry looking like in 2024? We are 6 years on from legalisation of cannabis-based medical products in the UK and although many patients have now been able to access these products, many others are still struggling to get access.  In this episode of the Drug Science podcast, Prof. David Nutt is ed by three leading experts in cannabis science and the evolving landscape of regulation. Dr. Callie Seaman, Dr. Leon Barron, and Michael Sassano share their insights into the future of cannabis as a medicine, the current regulatory environment, and the scientific innovations driving the industry forward Cannabis Industry Council Medical Cannabis Working Group   SOMAI Pharmaceuticals  Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society London Resilience Clinic  German medical cannabis market  NHS Cannabis-based products for medicinal use Cost effectiveness paper HHS report  This episode has been ed by the Cannabis Industry Council  ★ this podcast ★

In this episode, we meet with Darren Murphy, a Chemsex Specialist Practitioner at Forward Leeds, to discuss chemsex, addiction, as well as addressing the link with the LGBTQ+ community. Darren shares his personal journey, navigating the challenges of drug addiction and everything which came with it. Realising the limited available for people engaging in chemsex, Darren shares how he uses his experiences to help others overcome similar struggles.      ChemSex and Being Safer Methamphetamine mephedrone GHB Poppers Cocaine Mdma Ketamine Eating disorder HIV Narcotics Anonymous the podcast ★ this podcast ★

  In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Simon Ruffell, a psychiatrist and ayahuasca researcher with extensive experience working with Indigenous communities in the Amazon Basin. He discusses the potential of Indigenous medicines to complement Western psychiatric care and reduce relapse rates. Dr. Ruffell compares Western and Indigenous approaches to using spiritual plants, addressing the ongoing debate about how to respectfully integrate Indigenous medicine into Western healthcare as well as highlighting the key differences between commercial ayahuasca retreats and authentic Indigenous practices. Lastly, he discusses aspects of Shipibo culture and a journey into Shamanism.       Ayahuasca DMT Psilocybin Psychosis Revolving door syndrome Shipibo Heroic Hearts the Podcast Dr Simon Ruffell Onaya Health Onaya Science Mind over matter Participation in an indigenous Amazonian-led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness Ceremonial Ayahuasca in Amazonian Retreats Modulatory effects of ayahuasca on personality structure in a traditional framework ★ this podcast ★

In this episode, we meet with Dr Karenza Moore as she discusses changes in drug trends in the UK, focusing on the motivations, risks, and patterns of drug use, particularly among young people. Karenza identifies trends in drug use, including the impact of the lockdown on substance abuse. She also examines various drug trends within dance music culture, which leads to a discussion of safer partying practices, with a particular focus on the LGBT community and the importance of staying safe during a night out.  Finally she addresses the challenges of conducting research in this area and outlines strategies for overcoming these barriers to gain a comprehensive understanding of substance use.   Ketamine MDMA Mephedrone Release Transform Beckleys foundation the podcast ★ this podcast ★

In this episode, Prof Nutt meets with Rose Cartwright as she discusses the impact of psychedelics on her Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She reflects on some of the common misconceptions around OCD as well as the impact diagnosis and traditional treatment had on her life. Throughout the episode, she reflects on her own psychedelic experiences, mistakes made along the way and the steps she would have taken differently going into this with the knowledge she has today. Rose Cartwright is a screenwriter whose memoir, Pure, about her life with intrusive sexual thoughts, was adapted for Channel 4. Her revolutionary new memoir, The Maps We Carry, reveals how the failure of the mental health system to cure her OCD led her to radical action. While she explored her trauma through a series of mind-bending psychedelic trips, she began to interrogate our dominant medical paradigm. Her writing about psychedelics, consciousness and mental health has also been published in The Face, Vice and the Guardian. Rose is a writer on the Netflix adaptation of Liu Cixin’s The Three Body Problem. The Maps We Carry Rose Cartwright  OCD Bulimia  PTSD Pure  Intrusive thoughts Psychodynamic therapy Person centred therapy MDMA  Psilocybin the podcast ★ this podcast ★