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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 GayborhoodThe LGBTQIA+ study
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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
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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
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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
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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
LinksMercury 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
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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 GroupNeedle Exchange
Naloxone
Drug Consumption RoomHigh Tolerance Housing
The Merseyside Model
Drug TestingDrug Testing Kits
International Harm Reduction AssociationHIV and AIDS
Opiate Substitution Therapy
Winter Comfort Case Support the Podcast
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 CartwrightOCD
Bulimia
PTSD
Pure
Intrusive thoughts
Psychodynamic therapy
Person centred therapy
MDMA
Psilocybin
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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
AyahuascaPsilocybin
mescaline
Working with Satya
Ayahuasca retreat
Trauma
PTSD in Veterans
Indigenous ethics in psychedelic work
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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.
The risk matrix: Drug-related deaths in prisons in England and Wales, 2015–2020Responding 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
PregabalinCannabis
Synthetic cannabis
Ecstasy
Heroin
HIV
Fentanyl
ADHD
Rory Stewart 10 Prisons Project
Antisocial personality disorder
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In this episode, David Nutt meets with Dr Duncan Still, a GP with significant interest in integrative medicine. He highlights the importance of adopting a holistic approach when providing support for patients and connecting traditional medicine with modern medicine as opposed to discounting it. Duncan explains how this holistic and integrative approach led to him becoming involved in psychedelic retreats and explains the process participants will undergo.
PsyEduUK
Acupuncture
Psilocybin
MDMA
Australia MDMA and psilocybin
Mind medicine Australia
Nature connectedness
James Hawkins
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In this episode we meet with Dr Apo Aporosa
He discusses his unconventional route to his PhD, having not finished school and joined the Army followed by the police only to break into academia at a masters level and continuing studies from there.
Apo talks about his PTSD diagnosis and his subsequent journey with Kava, a spiritual drink consumed in Fijian culture. He discusses the affect this had in treating his PTSD symptoms as well as it facilitating his work overcoming his trauma. In this episode, Apo explains cultural aspects of the Kava experience.
Finally, Apo discusses methods of translating Kava into the medical field without impacting on its traditional and cultural uses. as well as its position of legality within the UK.
Kava Drug information
What is Kava?
Kava Myths and Misunderstandings
PTSD
PTSD in Veterans
Fijian Kava Ceremoney
Become a drug science community member
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In this episode, Kate Hayes reflects on her experiences with the LSD Microdot Gang, drawing upon her interactions and experiences with Dr. Christine Bott and Richard Kemp. She addresses Richard and Christine’s aspiration to bring about positive change in the world using LSD which led to their eventual arrest following involvement in an LSD production and distribution network. At the time, however it was not uncommon for there to be a separation from LSD funders and manufacturers with distributors and dealers. Kate, therefore, further reflects on her own personal experiences with having fallen victim to the drug trade and trafficking at a young age and how this impacted on her experiences going forwards. Kate further reflects on the historical issues in treating mental health conditions and the current limitations of this, drawing further upon Christine and Richards aspirations for LSD.
Buy the books here
Listen to Acid Dream here
The Club of Rome report
Carl Rogers
Carl Rogers 2
LSD
Cannabis
Albert Hoffman
University Occupation for Palestine
March on Washington
Martin Luther king
Death of the Family, David Cooper
PTSD
Gabor Mate
Josef Rael
History of The Club of Rome
Instagram
Facebook
Blog
You Tube Channel
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In this episode we meet with Dr Julie Holland.
She discussed how MDMA influenced her career and inspired her to investigate its therapeutic potential. Controversially, she has investigated the effect of MDMA in schizophrenia and its potential in preventing paranoia and inhibiting auditory hallucinations during its effects.
Dr Holland touches upon debate subjects such as the likelihood of addiction following consumption of MDMA as well as classifications of various substances under regulatory bodies.
Finally, Dr Holland highlights the ‘alpha bias’ in current clinical research as expressed through her book ‘moody bitches’ and indicates the implications this could have.
Moody Bitches Book
Good Chemistry book
Maps
Mdma
Mescaline
PCP
LSD
Cannabis
Fentanyl
Benzodiazapines
Ketamine
Psilocybin
Psilocybin psychotherapy
Schizophrenia
Anxiety
PTSD
Eating Disorders
Rosalind Watts
Norman Ohler
Telehealth Ketamine Study
Become a Drug Science Community Member
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In this episode, we meet with Dr. Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy in Auckland. Dr. Muthukumaraswamy discusses his early research, exploring the functional connectivity of substances like DMT and Ketamine. He proceeds to share insights into his breakthrough realisation regarding the disparity between the self-reported success of microdosing outside the lab setting and why it has failed to be replicated in controlled research settings. Finally, he shares his opinions on recent developments of drug policy in Australia and the prospects of New Zealand adopting a similar policy.
Ketamine
DMT
LSD
Fmri
MEG
EEG
PET
5-HT Receptor
Microdosing
Neuroplasticity
Endocrine
Menstural Cycle Hormones
Australia Law on MDMA and Psilocybin
Research
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Professor Mitul Mehta explains how his studies in neuroscience and the role of dopamine in learning and memory led to his own career in neuroimaging. He offers an overview of what neuroimaging entails and how these scans can contribute to the advancement of research.
Drawing from his latest research centred around Schizophrenia, Mitul delves into our understanding of drug interactions within the brain and how these can be used in drug development.
Dopamine
Dopaminergic system
Executive function
Episodic memory
Brain imaging
Lesion Study
Pet scanner
Temporal resolution
Fmri
MRI
Receptors
neurons
Blood Brain Barrier
Ketamine
Cocaine
Psilocybin
Schizophrenia
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In this episode, Prof Neill and Dr Thurgur meet with Dr Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist known for studying social behaviour and psychedelic drugs. Together, they explore the role of critical periods in trauma and mental health; following the potential of Psychedelics in reopening critical periods which were previously thought to be closed, they debate whether a critical period closing is ever truly permanent.
Critical period
Sensitive period
Lorenz 1935
MDMA
cocaine
Oxytocin
Ibogaine
psilocybin
Theory of mind
Albert Hofmann
Schizophrenia
Become a Drug Science Community Member
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