Blog

At Drug Science we like to cover different topics relating to drugs. These topics cover the many different ways that psychoactive substances have an impact on our culture and society.

Sally Turner

Aug 3011 min read

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous-Oxide: What is it good for?

Discovered in 1722 by Dr Joseph Priestley, nitrous oxide (N2O) is now an essential medicine and a popular recreational drug.

“SIZE MATTERS”: High strength ecstasy pills are back, so harm reduction communications need to adapt

Prof Fiona Measham and Adam Waugh

Jun 246 min read

Policy

“SIZE MATTERS”: High strength ecstasy pills are back, so harm reduction communications need to adapt

Average pill strength has increased in 2024, back to pre-pandemic levels

Prof David Nutt and Prof Jo Neill

Jun 216 min read

Response

Doubt it not, MDMA is a medicine

The AdCom was asked to make a binary yes-no vote on both the efficacy and benefit-risk of MDMA, with scores of 9-2 and 10-1 against for each

Psilocybin shows promise in supporting symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Eleanor Taylor

Mar 187 min read

MPWG

Psilocybin shows promise in supporting symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Pioneering research highlights the potential for treating the symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Written by Eleanor...

The end of the pilot stage: The long and winding road to drug checking in the UK

Professor Fiona Measham

Jan 267 min read

EHRWG

The end of the pilot stage: The long and winding road to drug checking in the UK

All images used in this blog are owned by The Loop Written by – Professor Fiona Measham Founder and Chair of The Loop Chair in...

How Much Do You Know About Medical Cannabis?

Sarah Sinclair

Jan 43 min read

MCWG

How Much Do You Know About Medical Cannabis?

In November we brought over 200 patients together in London (and many more online) for the second UK Patient Conference, hosted by Drug Scie

Mike Roberts

Oct 30, 20233 min read

MCWG

Mike Roberts – Medical Cannabis Patient Story

My medical cannabis journey began in 2021, whilst trying to find a treatment for my intractable chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Sophie Gorman

Oct 24, 20233 min read

MCWG

Sophie Gorman – Medical Cannabis Patient Story

Having been diagnosed with a rare auto-inflammatory disease 10 years prior I had completely lost all hope of the NHS helping me

A drug harms ranking study for Aotearoa New Zealand

Dr Rose Crossin

Aug 21, 20237 min read

Peer Reviewed Articles

A drug harms ranking study for Aotearoa New Zealand

Drug harm is a significant public health burden in Aotearoa New Zealand ; though harms are not evenly distributed across the populati

The Drug Science Podcast and Medical Cannabis

Mags Houston

Jul 24, 20233 min read

Podcast

The Drug Science Podcast and Medical Cannabis

the Drug Science podcast has been a vital and inspiring source of information for me when it comes to UK drug policy.

A call for cannabis research reform in New Zealand: Why real world evidence and patients’ voices matter

Dr Fiona Hutton, Dr Geoff Noller and more

Jul 19, 202310 min read

MCWG

A call for cannabis research reform in New Zealand: Why real world evidence and patients’ voices matter

While cannabis based medicines hold out the promise of much needed relief, at the same time, this often conflicts with many countries’ drug

Drugs: What are they good for? - 5-MeO-DMT

Sally Turner

Jun 12, 20237 min read

MPWG

Drugs: What are they good for? - 5-MeO-DMT

5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, or ‘toad venom’ as it’s better known, is a tryptamine psychedelic that occurs naturally in multiple specie

Taking matters into my own hands: Self-taught drug education

AJ Martin

Apr 3, 20233 min read

Students

Taking matters into my own hands: Self-taught drug education

Written by AJ Martin – President of the Imperial College Students for Sensible Drug Policy Engaging in the drug science and policy space...

Kylie O’Brien, Justin Beilby and more

Mar 23, 20232 min read

T21

Preliminary findings from T21 Australia

An observational study of patients prescribed medicinal Cannabis for chronic pain, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and multiple...

Combating the stigma: a T21 success story

Louise McConnell

Mar 20, 20232 min read

T21

Combating the stigma: a T21 success story

By Louise McConnell Although medical cannabis has been legal in the UK for more than four years, there still exists a great deal of...

Drug Science

Jan 19, 20239 min read

EHRWG

Response from Drug Science to the Australian Government consultation on potential reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products

Border controls No legislative changes ought to be made to Australia’s current border controls for nicotine products. The black market...

Neuroplasticity in Mental Health Recovery: Prompting the Brain to Cure Itself

Tiago Vasconcelos

Jan 5, 20238 min read

MPWG

Neuroplasticity in Mental Health Recovery: Prompting the Brain to Cure Itself

Written by Tiago Vasconcelos Psychiatric disorders can be considered to disturb the brain’s equilibria, emerging when different factors...

Busting the Myths Surrounding Psychedelics

Drug Science

Dec 28, 20224 min read

MPWG

Busting the Myths Surrounding Psychedelics

Prof. Jo Neill The generalised public perception of psychedelic drugs is rooted in their legal categorisation as a Class A, Schedule 1...

50 Years of Failed Drug Policy – Event Review

Karolina Wilgus

Dec 22, 20223 min read

Guest authors

50 Years of Failed Drug Policy – Event Review

By Karolina Wilgus Since 1971, The Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) has yielded suffering, halted life-saving research, and put overwhelming...

Would you let your teenager try psychedelics?

Alice Lineham

Nov 15, 202210 min read

Opinion

Would you let your teenager try psychedelics?

By Alice Lineham *Note that throughout this article the term ‘teenager’ is used to refer to individuals between the ages of 13-18 Since...

The United Kingdom's Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. Where are we now?

Christopher Humphries

Nov 14, 20221 min read

DSPL

The United Kingdom's Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. Where are we now?

Authors Christopher Humphries Published November 14th, 2022 This narrative review describes the background to the introduction of the UK...