“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
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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.
Wim van den Brink
- Jun 19
- 4 min
Report of the Dutch State Committee on MDMA: A summary of findings and recommendations
On June 6, 2024, the Dutch State Committee MDMA presented its report entitled “MDMA: Beyond ecstasy” to the Dutch Minister of Medical Care.
Drug Science
- May 23
- 3 min
How can we prepare psychiatry for a psychedelic future?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia recently made a groundbreaking decision to reschedule two drugs as treatments for ce
Alex Stevens, Niamh Eastwood and more
- Mar 24
- 1 min
In defence of the decriminalisation of drug possession in the UK
Authors Alex Stevens, Niamh Eastwood and Kirstie Douse Published March 24, 2024 Abstract In this review article, we develop the case for...
Torsten Passie
- Feb 22
- 1 min
A history of the European Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy (EPT) 1964–1974
Authors Torsten Passie Published February 22, 2024 Abstract The emergence of a so-called psychedelic renaissance has been proposed to...
Drug Science
- Feb 6
- 5 min
Will the war on vaping result in more harm?
Key take-home messages: The disposable vape ban is intended to curb youth vaping, addressing the increasing use of vaping among youth in...
Shreya Malde and Naumih Noah
- Jan 31
- 2 min
Investigation of the household storage of medicines and disposal practices in Parklands sub-county in Nairobi, Kenya
Over time there has been an increase in access to medicine, leading to the bulk of drugs becoming unused and being kept at home.
Professor Fiona Measham
- Jan 26
- 7 min
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...
Sean Matthew Viña
- Jan 9
- 1 min
Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns: Cardio-metabolic health
Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns: Cardio-metabolic health. Race differences remain a critically understudied gap in psychedelic li
Drug Science
- Dec 11, 2023
- 2 min
Patients with a terminal diagnosis want to access psilocybin in the UK
Terminal patients are calling for compassionate access to be granted for psilocybin — the psychedelic substance found in fungi known as ‘mag
James Bunn
- Dec 11, 2023
- 5 min
Psilocybin for Existential Distress
Read our latest report on why patients experiencing 'Existential Distress'
ought to be permitted access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherap
Tom Cooney and Fiona Measham
- Nov 21, 2023
- 1 min
Counting and accounting for drug-related deaths at UK music festivals 2017–2023: A commentary
The exact number of drug-related deaths at UK music festivals in recent years is unknown, and there are no standard processes for reporting
Harjeev Kour Sudan, Jane Kim and more
- Nov 19, 2023
- 2 min
Decrypting the cryptomarkets: Trends over a decade of the Dark Web drug trade
The Dark Web is a subsection of the Internet only accessible through specific search engines, making it impossible to trace users.
Drug Science
- Nov 8, 2023
- 2 min
Today’s ban on 'laughing gas' is wrong - Prof David Nutt
The government’s ban on nitrous oxide comes into force today (Wednesday 8th November, 2023) and possession of the drug is now a criminal act
Petter Grahl Johnstad
- Sep 6, 2023
- 1 min
Racial and religious motives for drug criminalization
The world has a long-standing system of drug control intended to suppress the use of a range of psychoactive drugs on the basis that such us
Zakaria Belrhiti and Fatima Zohra Serghini
- Sep 1, 2023
- 2 min
Perceived barriers to access to hepatitis C for people who inject drugs in Morocco: A qualitative explorative study
Worldwide, approximately there are 15.6 million people who inject drugs. Recently, a rising prevalence of hepatitis C virus among the people
Dr Rose Crossin
- Aug 21, 2023
- 7 min
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
Benjamin Korman
- Jul 31, 2023
- 1 min
Could classic psychedelics influence immigrants’ acculturation process? A narrative review contemplating how
Rising international migration, paired with increasing public support for far-right political parties, poses a growing challenge to the coun
Dr Fiona Hutton, Dr Geoff Noller and more
- Jul 19, 2023
- 10 min
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
Jon Waldron, Meryem Grabski, and more
- Jul 10, 2023
- 2 min
Impact of the introduction of medical cannabis in the UK on risk perception and recreational use of cannabis: A longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis
Cannabis was rescheduled in the UK in November 2018 so that it can now be prescribed as a treatment for certain medical conditions.
James Bunn
- Jun 28, 2023
- 5 min
Psilocybin for Existential Distress - the UK needs to show some compassion
Psilocybin has shown promise as a treatment for existential distress, a condition marked by feelings of hopelessness, despair, and a lack of
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