The Drug Science Podcast Drug Science

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
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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

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
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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. 
Methamphetamine
Amphetamine
Blitzkrieg
Blitzed – drugs in nazi Germany book
LSD
Tripped
Cocaine
Albert Hofmann
Psychedelics David Nutt
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On the 100th Episode of the Drug Science podcast, Prof David Nutt meets with Dr James Rucker to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maudsley Hospital. James shares his experiences as one of the first clinicians in a psychedelic study hosted by David Nutt before explaining his own personal journey into psychedelic research. 
Starting from a PhD in Genetics, James’ interest shifted, becoming increasingly interested in psychiatry and discusses his research into psilocybin regarding both its optimum dosage as well as its effectiveness in treatment resistant depression.
 

Depression
Maudsley Hospital
Maudsley Hospital Psychedelic Research
NIHR
Compass pathways
Psilocybin
Magic medicine documentary
Mdma 
Dmt 
Ketamine
MAPS
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