The Drug Science 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 AyahuascaPsilocybinmescalineWorking with SatyaAyahuasca retreatTraumaPTSD in Veterans Indigenous ethics in psychedelic workSupport the podcast ★ Support this 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.  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, 2015-2020Producing 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 deathsACMD report: ageing cohort of drug usersCity roads PPO Pregabalin Cannabis Synthetic cannabis EcstasyHeroin HIVFentanyl ADHD Rory Stewart 10 Prisons Project Antisocial personality disorder Support the podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

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 AcupuncturePsilocybinMDMAAustralia MDMA and psilocybinMind medicine AustraliaNature connectednessJames HawkinsSupport the Podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode we meet with Dr Apo AporosaHe 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 MisunderstandingsPTSDPTSD in VeteransFijian Kava CeremoneyBecome a drug science community member ★ Support this podcast ★

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 hereListen to Acid Dream hereThe Club of Rome reportCarl Rogers Carl Rogers 2LSD CannabisAlbert Hoffman University Occupation for Palestine March on WashingtonMartin Luther kingDeath of the Family, David CooperPTSD Gabor MateJosef RaelHistory of The Club of RomeInstagramFacebookBlogYou Tube ChannelSupport the Podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

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 BookGood Chemistry bookMaps MdmaMescalinePCPLSDCannabisFentanylBenzodiazapinesKetaminePsilocybinPsilocybin psychotherapySchizophreniaAnxietyPTSDEating DisordersRosalind WattsNorman OhlerTelehealth Ketamine StudyBecome a Drug Science Community Member ★ Support this podcast ★

 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. KetamineDMTLSDFmriMEGEEGPET5-HT ReceptorMicrodosingNeuroplasticityEndocrineMenstural Cycle HormonesAustralia Law on MDMA and PsilocybinResearchSupport the podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

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.DopamineDopaminergic systemExecutive functionEpisodic memoryBrain imagingLesion StudyPet scannerTemporal resolutionFmriMRIReceptorsneuronsBlood Brain BarrierKetamineCocainePsilocybinSchizophrenia

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 periodSensitive periodLorenz 1935MDMAcocaineOxytocinIbogainepsilocybinTheory of mindAlbert HofmannSchizophreniaBecome a Drug Science Community Member ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Prof Nutt meets with German author Norman Ohler as he speaks about his new book “Tripped” which addresses drug use in post-Nazi Germany. Ohler shares how a secret history held back therapeutic research of psychedelic drugs for decades and eventually Nazi policies became part of the foundation of America’s War on Drugs. Ohler discusses theories as to why substances have been omitted from certain parts of history. This episode delves into deep debates regarding the weaponisation of substances within war environments, touching upon the CIA’s attempts to weaponise psychedelics such as LSD in their MK Ultra experiments. MethamphetamineAmphetamineBlitzkriegBlitzed – drugs in nazi Germany bookLSDTrippedCocaineAlbert HofmannPsychedelics David NuttBecome a drug science community member  ★ Support this podcast ★