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Decrypting the cryptomarkets: Trends over a decade of the Dark Web drug trade

Authors Harjeev Kour Sudan, Andy Man Yeung Tai, Jane Kim and Reinhard Michael Krausz Published November 19, 2023 Introduction The Dark Web is a subsection of the Internet only accessible through specific search engines, making it impossible to trace users. Due to extensive anonymity, the drug trade on the Dark Web makes regulation complicated. We  …


Can ayahuasca reduce inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity? A pilot study

Authors WaiFung Tsang, Simon GD Ruffell, Nigel Netzband, Angelina Jong, James Rucker, Quinton Deeley and Jack Hollingdale Published November 16, 2023 Background The potential benefits of ayahuasca on mental health conditions are well documented. This pilot study is the first to explore whether there is an association with ayahuasca use and reductions in inattention, hyperactivity  …


The impact of over the counter and prescription medication misuse on friends and family

Authors Rosalind Gittins, Roya Vaziri, and Ian Maidment Published November 16, 2023 Introduction Over the counter and prescription-only medication misuse is of concern. Little is known about the impact on friends/family who provide individuals with support. It is important to increase understanding to identify how substance misuse services (SMS) and others can better meet their  …


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 in the United Kingdom. Drug Science’s founder, Professor David Nutt, says: “We believe the ban is wrong. It is completely disproportionate to nitrous oxide’s harms. It will place a new burden  …


Drug Science is Hiring - Communications Director

Job brief We are looking for a Communications Director to join our core team. We are in an exciting stage of growth as an organisation, one that will reward initiative and a growth mindset with opportunities for fast career development. We are looking for a talented communicator who thrives off translating the scientific evidence-base for  …


Press Release: Government decision on cannabis-related medicinal products draws criticism from independent scientific body, Drug Science.

Today (13th August 2019), the independent scientific body Drug Science has responded with disappointment to a decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), relating to cannabis-related medical products. In November 2018, the then Home Secretary Sajid Javid introduced regulations so that cannabis-derived medicinal products would be available on prescription. This change  …


The Cannabis Society: London Medical Cannabis Conference

Drug Science is delighted to support The Cannabis Society Medical Conference, being held on 24th June in Central London. The Cannabis Society is dedicated to fostering the cannabis community through events, conferences, dinners and much more. The conference is an opportunity to join with doctors from both Europe and North America, industry experts, investors and  …


DrugScience Symposium 'Cannabis medicines: from principle to practice. How can we maximise clinical research and benefits?'

Please download the conference background materials here, including: Meeting slides DrugScience report on medicinal cannabis DrugScience cannabis pre-review submitted to the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Summaries of international and American medicinal cannabis licensing The Chief Medical Officer and advisor to the UK government has recently agreed that cannabis is a medicine. It has  …


The Drug Enforcement Agency listens to psychedelic experts

By Professor David Nutt and James Bunn The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently withdrew a proposal to ban five psychedelic substances: 4-Hydroxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (4-OH-DiPT), 5-Methoxy-alphamethyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT), N-Isopropyl-5-Methoxy-N-Methyltryptamine (5-MeO-MiPT), N,N-Diethyl-5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-DET), and N,N-Diisopropyltryptamine (DiPT). Earlier this year, the DEA proposed that these substances ought to be moved to schedule 1 (the most restrictive schedule in the Controlled  …


UK Drugs Inquiry: Drug Science Response

In 2019, Drug Science submitted evidence to the Drugs Policy Inquiry by the Health and Social Care Committee. In 2020, we prepared a detailed report in response to the Dame Carol Black Drugs Review. In 2021, we reacted to the government’s 10-year Drug Strategy. Our 2022 response to the UK government’s call for evidence of  …


The Unintended Consequences of Prohibitionist Policies - Mephedrone

Mephedrone is the common name for 4-methylmethcathinone. This is a synthetic derivative of cathinone, first synthesized in 1929, and largely forgotten until the early 2000s when Israeli scientists working for an insecticide company started experimenting with cathinones as octopamine analogues to disrupt the brain activity of aphids so make them less damaging to plants. Mephedrone  …


THC vs Alcohol Impaired Driving

By Dr. Shanna Marrinan   Since the 2nd of March 2015, it has been illegal to drive with predetermined amounts of particular drugs (including legal medications) in your blood. The limits for these legal and illegal drugs can be located in ‘The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014’ (hereafter the 2014 regulations’). However, a handy  …


The vaping crisis - Questions and answers by Clive Bates 

Foreword by Professor David Nutt Lies, damn lies and vaping statistics- To paraphrase Disraeli’s famous critique of statistics the so-called science of vaping now seems to have become even worse than dishonest. In the past 6 months we have seen across the world a deliberate attempt to mislead the public over the harms of vaping  …