Drugs Unwrapped: The Podcast Barod

Freelance journalist, author and podcast host, Mattha Busby, joins Drugs Unwrapped to discuss whether we should legalise all drugs and the constant developments within the psychedelic world.

Mattha is the author of the book 'Should we legalise all drugs' as well as being a well known freelance journalist, reporting on various matters relating to substance use, from across the world. In 2023, Mattha broke the news that the ACMD, the main advisors to the UK government on drug policy, recommended decriminalising possession in 2016, only for the Home Office to try and keep the 27-page report confidential.

Mattha discusses whether drugs should be legalised and what the catastrophic impact of prohibition has had across the globe. Mattha also highlights some of the developments of the use of psychedelics for multiple purposes as, well as sharing some of the stories heard from his own podcast, 'Unchartered Territory'.

Mattha has reported on many unique stories for various media outlets, including Vice, The Guardian and The Times. Mattha provides an insight into one particular experience, undertaking a 5-day darkness retreat in Mexico and what impact it had on his own wellbeing.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

Rob and Sarah (Gwent N-Gage Young Person's Service Manager) discuss the latest substance use trends among young people and how plans are in place to overhaul drug education within schools, throughout the Gwent region.

Sarah outlines the plans for the service, ahead of the start of a new 10-year contract to deliver young person's and family services in Gwent and what changes are expected, compared to the previous 7-years of delivery.

Sarah also discusses what substances young people are accessing for support around, where they get their harm reduction information from and how Covid-19 played a role in the change of treatment delivery.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

Rob and Jamie discuss the latest news regarding synthetic opioids, including the UK government's decision to ban 14 nitazenes and reports of more fatalities in Wales associated to these substances. What impact will the latest 'crackdown' on drugs have, especially on those who use substances?

We discuss whether this latest ban will work, or if history is likely to repeat itself and other substances will just replace them within the UK drug market. We also highlight what harm reduction measures could be implemented to mitigate such issues associated to nitazenes, including drug checking services and how this can significantly help provide current and factual harm reduction information.

We also answer your questions via our ADQs (Ask Drug Questions section) and Rob questions Jamie about why he couldn't get past episode 2 of Breaking Bad!

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

Rob, Hannah and Shannon discuss why some substances are deemed more acceptable than others. Does your environment make using certain substances more 'OK' compared to other situations? Why would drinking alcohol after work on a Tuesday be viewed as OK, while using ketamine mid-week may be viewed differently?

We discuss how alcohol came to be an accepted part of our lives, and society, and how many factors from family values to legislation play a significant role. If all drugs were to be legalised, would people view each substance in the same light as one of the nations favourite drugs?

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

In this episode, we are joined by Stephanie Coronado-Montoya. Steph is a PhD candidate in psychiatry and addiction at University of Montreal.

Steph discusses her thesis and a brand new harm reduction intervention that is specifically aimed at people with psychosis who use cannabis. We also delve into the relationship between cannabis and psychosis and explore why people who experience such mental health issues, use 'weed'.

Canada was one of the first countries in the world to introduce a legal, regulated cannabis market and Steph highlights how this is going and whether anyone wants to go back to the more prohibitive approach, pre-2018.

We would highly recommend giving Steph a follow on Instagram
@the.brain.diaries, especially if you want the latest new in cannabis research.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

In this episode, Rob is joined by Ant Lehane, Policy Lead at Cranstoun. Ant has an extensive amount of experience working within the drug policy arena and discussing such topics with politicians from across the UK.

Is advocating for drug policy reform is a vote winner or loser? Which political party boasts the most progressive drug policies within their manifestos? Will we see significant changes to UK drug policy if Labour wins the next general election? Are politicians, behind closed doors, supportive of changing drug laws in the UK? These are just some of the topics discussed in our latest episode.

**Disclaimer. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the panellists and do not necessarily represent those of the organisations they represent and employed by**