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Blog
At Drug Science we like to cover different topics relating to drugs. These topics cover the many different ways that psychoactive substances have an impact on our culture and society.

Drug development in psychiatry: 50 years of failure and how to resuscitate it
The past 50 years have seen remarkable advances in the science of medicine. The pharmacological treatments of disorders such as hypertension
David Nutt
Feb 121 min read


MDMA-assisted therapy: challenges, clinical trials, and the future of MDMA in treating behavioral disorders
Despite recent setbacks for the clinical application of MDMA, the chapter argues that it holds potential for transforming psychiatry and
David Nutt
Jan 301 min read


The Australia story: Current status and future challenges for the clinical applications of psychedelics
The past decade has seen a huge increase in clinical research with psychedelic drugs and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
David J Nutt, Peter Hunt, Anne Katrin Schlag and Paul Fitzgerald
Dec 18, 20241 min read


Medical cannabis could save NHS £4 billion each year
Allowing medical cannabis to be prescribed on the NHS for chronic pain could save the state healthcare provider almost £4 billion annually,

Suicidal Ideation in Medicinal Cannabis Patients: A 12-Month Prospective Study
To document the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) among individuals seeking cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs); to
James Bunn
Jul 31, 20242 min read

Prescribed Medical Cannabis Use Among Older Individuals: Patient Characteristics and Improvements in Well‑Being: Findings from T21
There are important differences between individuals aged 65+ years and younger individuals receiving cannabis-based medicinal products. Olde
Michael Lynskey
Jun 18, 20242 min read

Prescribed Medicinal Cannabis for the Treatment of Chronic Pain Comorbid with Depression: Real World Evidence from Project Twenty21
Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions for which people seek treatment with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) and there i
Alkyoni Anthanasiou-Fragkouli
Jun 6, 20242 min read


Medicinal cannabis for treating PTSD and comorbid depression: Real World Evidence from Project T21
Authors Michael Lynskey, Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli, Hannah Thurgur, Anne Schlag and David Nutt Published March 12, 2024 Background...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Mar 12, 20241 min read


Cannabis-based medicinal products for the treatment of Long COVID symptoms: current and potential applications
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can result in a range of persistent symptoms impacting everyday funct
Dr Hannah Thurgur, Dr Anne Schlag, and more
Aug 31, 20231 min read


A drug harms ranking study for Aotearoa New Zealand
Drug harm is a significant public health burden in Aotearoa New Zealand ; though harms are not evenly distributed across the populati
Dr Rose Crossin
Aug 21, 20237 min read


Bayesian analysis of real-world data as evidence for drug approval: Remembering Sir Michael Rawlins
The two pillars of modern medical research are where in most randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the active treatment is compared with plac
Balázs Szigeti, Professor David Nutt and more
Jul 17, 20231 min read


Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future
Psychedelic therapy has witnessed a resurgence in interest in the last decade from the scientific and medical communities with evidence now
Rayyan Zafar, Maxim Siegel and more
Jun 12, 20231 min read

Preliminary findings from T21 Australia
An observational study of patients prescribed medicinal Cannabis for chronic pain, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and multiple...
Kylie O’Brien, Justin Beilby and more
Mar 23, 20232 min read


The value of real world evidence: The case of medical cannabis
Authors Anne Katrin Schlag, Rayyan Zafar, Michael Lynskey, Lawrence D Phillips, Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli, David J Nutt Published...
Professor Michael Lynskey, Dr Anne Schlag and more
Nov 3, 20224 min read


User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study
Authors Robin Carhart-Harris, David Nutt Published July 30, 2010 Abstract This study used a web-based questionnaire to investigate user...
Robin Carhart-Harris and Professor David Nutt
Jul 7, 202232 min read


Cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in fibromyalgia: a review of preclinical and clinical research
Authors Stephanie Bourke, Anne Schlag, Saoirse Elizabeth O’Sullivan, David Nutt, David Finn Published May 21, 2022 Fibromyalgia affects...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Jun 21, 20222 min read


Characteristics of People Seeking Prescribed Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Chronic Pain: Evidence From Project Twenty 21
Authors Anne Katrin Schlag, Michael Lynskey, Alan Fayaz, Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli, Brigitta Brandner, Barbara Haja, Elizabeth Iveson...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Jun 13, 20223 min read


The UK's first unsanctioned overdose prevention site; A proof-of-concept evaluation
Authors Gillian W Shorter, Magdalena Harris, Andrew McAuley, Kirsten MA Trayner, Alex Stevens Published May 4, 2022 Background The United...
Gillian Shorter, Magdalena Harris and more
May 6, 20221 min read


Are psychedelics dangerous? - What the research says
Authors Anne K Schlag, Jacob Aday, Iram Salam, Jo C Neill, David J Nutt Published February 3, 2022 Psychedelic medicines are a rapidly...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Feb 3, 20223 min read


Medical cannabis for severe treatment resistant epilepsy in children: a case series of 10 patients
Authors Rayyan Zafar, Anne Schlag, Lawrence Phillips, David J Nutt Published December 15, 2021 We previously reported on the legalisation...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Dec 15, 20212 min read


Controversies in Medical Cannabis
Authors Anne Katrin Schlag, Saoirse E. O’Sullivan, Rayyan R. Zafar, David J.Nutt Published May 18, 2021 Knowledge about the therapeutic...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
May 18, 20212 min read
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