The Drug Science 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 support of the Longford trust, a charity that supports 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

Join 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

Compass Pathways

Compass Pathways Psilocybin for Treatment Resistant Depression

Awakn life sciences

Amygdala

Link in show notes

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 

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

Support the 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

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

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

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 support 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 passion 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 

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where Prof Nutt meets with several Drug Science Community members 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

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 passions 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

Support the 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

Support the 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

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 Support the 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 joined 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 supported by the Cannabis Industry Council 

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 support 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

Support the 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

Support 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

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

Support the 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

Support the podcast

In this episode, we meet with Satya, a consciousness activist, who has been entirely dedicated to the expansion and evolution of human consciousness for 15 years. Throughout this time, she has facilitated retreats for over 63,000 people around the world, with profound processes of transformation. Satya is the founder of Working With Satya and of the Awareness Facilitator School, that is currently training facilitators with the method she has developed, uniting modern therapies with science, meditation and ancient wisdom. 

She discusses the process of her work through a wide range of transformational processes, with a special focus on combining ancient rituals with contemporary therapeutic techniques. Satya shares how her personal healing journey, following sexual abuse, led her to discover the transformative power of Ayahuasca. Inspired by this experience, she became passionate about sharing this sacred medicine and supporting others on their own paths to healing.

Working With Psilocybin - Training Course
Ayahuasca

Psilocybin

mescaline

Working with Satya

Ayahuasca retreat

Trauma

PTSD in Veterans 

Indigenous ethics in psychedelic work

Support the podcast

In this episode, we meet with Prof Susanne MacGregor and Prof Karen Duke to explore the issues surrounding drug use in prisons. They discuss the ways vulnerable inmates can be targeted by gangs, as well as how various aspects of the prison environment can increase the potential harms of psychoactive substances.  Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that could lead to a safer and more rehabilitative prison system.

The risk matrix: Drug-related deaths in prisons in England and Wales, 2015–2020

Responding to ‘wicked problems’: policy and governance on drug-related deaths in English and Welsh prisons, 2015-2020

Producing the ‘problem’ of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in English prisons

‘Keeping a lid on it’: Exploring ‘problematisations’ of prescribed medication in prisons in the UK 

'Risk, Intoxication and Death: contemporary media framings of drug-related deaths

ACMD report: ageing cohort of drug users

City roads
PPO
Pregabalin 

Cannabis 

Synthetic cannabis 

Ecstasy

Heroin 

HIV

Fentanyl 

ADHD 

Rory Stewart 10 Prisons Project 

Antisocial personality disorder 

Support the podcast