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.

Perceived barriers to access to hepatitis C for people who inject drugs in Morocco: A qualitative explorative study

Zakaria Belrhiti and Fatima Zohra Serghini

Sep 1, 20232 min read

DSPL

Perceived barriers to access to hepatitis C for people who inject drugs in Morocco: A qualitative explorative study

Worldwide, approximately there are 15.6 million people who inject drugs. Recently, a rising prevalence of hepatitis C virus among the people

Cannabis-based medicinal products for the treatment of Long COVID symptoms: current and potential applications

Dr Hannah Thurgur, Dr Anne Schlag, and more

Aug 31, 20231 min read

Peer Reviewed Articles

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

A drug harms ranking study for Aotearoa New Zealand

Dr Rose Crossin

Aug 21, 20237 min read

Peer Reviewed Articles

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

Drug Science

Aug 1, 20231 min read

Dr Brigitta Brandner - Obituary

It is with very great sadness to inform you that the wonderful Dr Brigitta Brandner passed on the 19th July 2023.

Could classic psychedelics influence immigrants’ acculturation process? A narrative review contemplating how

Benjamin Korman

Jul 31, 20231 min read

DSPL

Could classic psychedelics influence immigrants’ acculturation process? A narrative review contemplating how

Rising international migration, paired with increasing public support for far-right political parties, poses a growing challenge to the coun

A phenomenological analysis of Fellini's films to understand the effect of LSD therapy on his creativity

Antonio Metastasio, Silvio Mignogna, and more

Jul 31, 20231 min read

DSPL

A phenomenological analysis of Fellini's films to understand the effect of LSD therapy on his creativity

Since its discovery in 1943, LSD has been used by artists, scientists, and intellectuals, amongst others, to stimulate their creative insigh

The Drug Science Podcast and Medical Cannabis

Mags Houston

Jul 24, 20233 min read

Podcast

The Drug Science Podcast and Medical Cannabis

the Drug Science podcast has been a vital and inspiring source of information for me when it comes to UK drug policy.

Drug Science

Jul 19, 20233 min read

Educational Slides

Reagent Testing Information

Any type of recreational drug use is likely to carry a degree of risk, both long-term and short-term. This is true for legal recreational dr

A call for cannabis research reform in New Zealand: Why real world evidence and patients’ voices matter

Dr Fiona Hutton, Dr Geoff Noller and more

Jul 19, 202310 min read

MCWG

A call for cannabis research reform in New Zealand: Why real world evidence and patients’ voices matter

While cannabis based medicines hold out the promise of much needed relief, at the same time, this often conflicts with many countries’ drug

Bayesian analysis of real-world data as evidence for drug approval: Remembering Sir Michael Rawlins

Balázs Szigeti, Professor David Nutt and more

Jul 17, 20231 min read

Peer Reviewed Articles

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

Drug Science

Jul 11, 20234 min read

Science

Drug Science to launch first study to directly test molecular neuroplasticity effects of DMT in humans

Impact of the introduction of medical cannabis in the UK on risk perception and recreational use of cannabis: A longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis

Jon Waldron, Meryem Grabski, and more

Jul 10, 20232 min read

DSPL

Impact of the introduction of medical cannabis in the UK on risk perception and recreational use of cannabis: A longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis

Cannabis was rescheduled in the UK in November 2018 so that it can now be prescribed as a treatment for certain medical conditions.

Psilocybin for Existential Distress - the UK needs to show some compassion

James Bunn

Jun 28, 20235 min read

MPWG

Psilocybin for Existential Distress - the UK needs to show some compassion

Psilocybin has shown promise as a treatment for existential distress, a condition marked by feelings of hopelessness, despair, and a lack of

Prof Nutt awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award by the BAP

Professor Valerie Curran and Professor Ilana Crome

Jun 27, 20232 min read

David Nutt

Prof Nutt awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award by the BAP

In 1989, David Nutt accepted the BAP Council’s invitation to become the Managing Editor of their flagship publication, the Journal of Psycho

Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns

Sean Viña and Amanda Stephens

Jun 23, 20231 min read

DSPL

Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns

Although there is a growing support for the use of psychedelics to improve the health of marginalized groups, there are some critical gaps.

Drugs: What are they good for? - 5-MeO-DMT

Sally Turner

Jun 12, 20237 min read

MPWG

Drugs: What are they good for? - 5-MeO-DMT

5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, or ‘toad venom’ as it’s better known, is a tryptamine psychedelic that occurs naturally in multiple specie

Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future

Rayyan Zafar, Maxim Siegel and more

Jun 12, 20231 min read

MPWG

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

Italian psychedelic therapies of the past century: An historical overview

Adriana D’Arienzo and Giorgio Samorini

Jun 6, 20231 min read

DSPL

Italian psychedelic therapies of the past century: An historical overview

In recent years, the historical record of psychedelic therapy in Europe and the Americas has undergone considerable revision.

Cost-effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe depression: exploratory findings from a decision analytic model

Paul McCrone, Henry Fisher and more

Jun 2, 20232 min read

DSPL

Cost-effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe depression: exploratory findings from a decision analytic model

There is growing evidence to support the use of the psychedelic drug psilocybin for difficult-to-treat depression. This paper compares the c

Medicinal cannabis for pain: Real-world data on three-month changes in symptoms and quality of life

Kylie O’Brien, Justin Beilby and more

May 25, 20232 min read

DSPL

Medicinal cannabis for pain: Real-world data on three-month changes in symptoms and quality of life

Internationally, one of the most common conditions for which people seek medicinal cannabis (MC) is chronic pain. However, relatively little

Does the co-use of cannabis exacerbate the effect of alcohol on the risk of crashing? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Michael White and Nicholas Burns

May 25, 20231 min read

DSPL

Does the co-use of cannabis exacerbate the effect of alcohol on the risk of crashing? A systematic review and meta-analysis

ARC: a framework for access, reciprocity and conduct in psychedelic therapies

Meg Spriggs, Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner and more

May 11, 20232 min read

DSPL

ARC: a framework for access, reciprocity and conduct in psychedelic therapies

The field of psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT) is growing at an unprecedented pace. The immense pressures this places on those working in t

Characteristics of and 3-month health outcomes for people seeking treatment with prescribed cannabis

Professor Michael Lynskey, Dr Anne Schlag and more

May 5, 20232 min read

DSPL

Characteristics of and 3-month health outcomes for people seeking treatment with prescribed cannabis

Medicinal cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018 but there is limited information about characteristics of people seeking prescribed

Drug Science

May 3, 20233 min read

MCWG

“Are they simply scared of cannabis?”

Four and half years since medical cannabis was made legal in the UK, a group of leading scientists is asking why patients with chronic pain,