104 episodes

Professor David Nutt has spent a career making the argument for a rational, evidence-based approach to drug policy and drug use. The scientific evidence still challenges perceived wisdom on drugs and for that reason can appear to be contentious. In this podcast, the Professor explores the actual harms and potential benefits of various drugs, challenging myths surrounding classification and legislation, and exploring the societal impact of poorly informed drug policy. Using evidence in public policy should not be controversial. A podcast for anyone interested in understanding the scientific truth about drugs, free from political or moral concern.

The Drug Science Podcast Drug Science

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 44 Ratings

Professor David Nutt has spent a career making the argument for a rational, evidence-based approach to drug policy and drug use. The scientific evidence still challenges perceived wisdom on drugs and for that reason can appear to be contentious. In this podcast, the Professor explores the actual harms and potential benefits of various drugs, challenging myths surrounding classification and legislation, and exploring the societal impact of poorly informed drug policy. Using evidence in public policy should not be controversial. A podcast for anyone interested in understanding the scientific truth about drugs, free from political or moral concern.

    101. LSD, Nazis and the CIA with Norman Ohler

    101. LSD, Nazis and the CIA with Norman Ohler

    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
    Become a drug science community member 


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    • 53 min
    100. 100 Years of the Maudsley Hospital with Dr James Rucker

    100. 100 Years of the Maudsley Hospital with Dr James Rucker

    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
    Support the Podcast


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    • 41 min
    99. Anyone's Child with Anne-Marie Cockburn and Jane Slater

    99. Anyone's Child with Anne-Marie Cockburn and Jane Slater

    In this episode, we meet with Jane Slater, co-founder of Anyone’s Child and Anne Marie, a mother who tragically lost her child, Martha, to an accidental overdose. Anne and Jane discuss the consequences of drug policy failures and the need for safe drug use education, drawing in on Anne’s personal journey. She discusses the pain of losing a loved one to a preventable drug related death and how this pain led to the start of Anyone's Child - creating a voice for those who have been directly impacted by drug policy failures and are now calling for the legal control and regulation of the drug market.
    Anyone's child
    Transform drugs
    Anyone's Child Get involved
    Release Harm Reduction Advice
    Drug information
    Ecstasy
    Heroin
    Overdose prevention centres
    The loop
    How to regulate psychedelics book
    Good Morning Britain 
    Dealing with grief
    UNGAS 2016


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    • 57 min
    98. The Merseyside Experiment with John Marks

    98. The Merseyside Experiment with John Marks

    In this week's episode, we feature John Marks, an Addiction Psychologist who spearheaded the Merseyside experiment in northwest England from 1982 to 1995. Throughout this 13-year period, Marks fearlessly operated clinics in Liverpool, basing his practice on the long-term maintenance prescribing of opiates to opiate users.
    The high media profile of his work, set against the backdrop of febrile local politics in Liverpool, brought immense political pressure. This pressure eventually led to the closure of the clinics.
    Tune in to this episode as John Marks shares his first-hand experiences, recounting the challenges, triumphs, and controversies surrounding his work on the experiment. He provides insights into the intricacies of the UK's drug laws and discusses their impact on his experiment.
    Alcohol 
    heroin
    Misuse of drugs act 1971
    The ‘Classic paper’ – The North Wind and the Sun
    Accidy, Addiction and the Prohibition
    Electroencephalographic Correlates of Psychometry
    EEG and Psychometry
    The Cartesian Bridge: On the Psychology of Consciousness and the Psychopathology of Addiction and Schizophrenia
    North wind and the sun
    County lines
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    • 29 min
    97. 5-MeO-DMT with Patrick Cox

    97. 5-MeO-DMT with Patrick Cox

    In this episode, we meet with Patrick Cox, a fashion designer with a background collaborating with Vivienne Westwood. Patrick shares his personal journey from his lifestyle in fashion, led to confronting deep-seated intergenerational trauma. Patrick opens up about undertaking the highly secretive Hoffman Process, and the transformative impact this had on him. From there, he further recounts his journey through the healing use of psychedelics, emphasising the transformative power of ego death. Patrick highlights how this journey led to him becoming a 5-MeO facilitator, and guiding others through these healing experiences.
    5-MEO
    Vivienne Westwood
    The Hoffman process
    Christopher Hitchens
    LSD
    Cannabis
    Ayahuasca 
    Ego Death
    Hermet phase
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    • 1 hr 4 min
    96. Ayahuasca: Before and After with Evgeny Lebedev

    96. Ayahuasca: Before and After with Evgeny Lebedev

    In this episode, David Nutt meets with Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the Independent and Evening Standard newspaper. Lebedev shares his transformative journey during his first Ayahuasca ceremony in Costa Rica. Throughout the episode, Lebedev not only shares insight into the ceremony's practices but also describes each personal ayahuasca experience and the themes that tied them together. He highlights his revelations resulting from the ceremony and they discuss the potential of psychedelics within healing practices. 
     
    Ayahuasca
    Psilocybin
    LSD
    DMT
    Small Pharma
    Medical Cannabis
    Vietnam hippies
    OCD
    Depression
    Dr Gabor Mate
    Support the podcast


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    • 46 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
44 Ratings

44 Ratings

Bekstayo ,

Fascinating, enlightening and relevant podcast

This podcast has been a major part of my life ever since I started listening to it 3 years ago; it has taught me a great deal and actually enhanced the quality of my life by showing me all sorts of new and exciting things that are going on in the world of drugs and drug science. In a world of so much bad news, it’s wonderful to hear of so many incredible developments and insights that are happening in the world of the mind and science.

Trevor Oldham ,

Awesome!

One of my new fav podcasts!

dead ahead man ,

Amazing podcast-listen to all episodes

As a graduate student researching a topic related to psychotherapy and PTSD, this podcast is a stand out. The drug and science podcast with David Nutt is the best podcast out on mind-altering drugs and mental health.

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