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Research
Drug Science publishes peer reviewed research, reports, and articles to provide clear, evidence-based information without political or commercial interference.
Drug Science Policy and Law Journal
Peer Reviewed Research
Reports
Who's asking me? Service user perspectives on safer injecting facilities
This paper discusses the topic of safer injecting facilities with those who are likely to use them. Whilst more countries are adopting this
Petra Salisbury and Darren Hill
Jan 81 min read
The Glasgow drug consumption room: A job half done?
This article discusses the introduction of the safe drug consumption facility in Glasgow and considers some of its potential consequences.
Phil Dalgarno and Steve O’Rawe
Oct 28, 20241 min read
An exploration of medical professionals’ attitudes, perceived knowledge and concerns around medical cannabis in the United Kingdom
In the UK, there are over 40,000 specialist clinicians who are eligible to prescribe cannabis-based medical products (CBMPs); however, only
Hallie Heeg, Ana Morari, Michael Lynskey and John JD Turner
Sep 24, 20242 min read
Compliance in the laboratory: Navigating the Controlled Substances Act and Federal Analogue Act in scientific research
This paper delves into the crucial yet complex relationship between federal laws and scientific research, centering on the Controlled Substa
Kimberly I Chew and Jacqueline L von Salm
Sep 24, 20241 min read
Allaying the fears: Midomafetamine with therapy is a medicine
MDMA (now called midomafetamine by the FDA) is a substituted amphetamine first synthesised in 1912 by Merck that has been developed over the
David J Nutt, Tadeusz Hawrot, Peter Hunt and Anne Katrin Schlag
Sep 24, 20243 min read
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) consumption in Aotearoa New Zealand: A quantitative survey exploration
The prevalence of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) consumption is relatively high in Aotearoa New Zealand, but MDMA use has not been
Jai Whelan, Geoff Noller, and Ryan D Ward
Aug 18, 20242 min read
Allaying the fears: MDMA with therapy is a medicine
MDMA has been developed over the past 30 years by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies as a novel treatment for PTSD.
Prof David Nutt, Tadeusz Hawrot, Peter Hunt, and Dr Anne Katrin Schlag
Aug 6, 202425 min read
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...
Alex Stevens, Niamh Eastwood and more
Mar 24, 20241 min read
Childhood trauma, challenging experiences, and post traumatic growth in ayahuasca use
Authors Ksenia Cassidy, CJ Healy, Eva Henje and Wendy D’Andrea Published March 20, 2024 Abstract Challenging experiences in ayahuasca...
Ksenia Cassidy, Eva Henje and more
Mar 20, 20241 min read
Participation in an indigenous Amazonian-led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness – a pilot study
Authors Simon GD Ruffell, Sam Gandy, WaiFung Tsang, Rono Lopez, Nathan O’Rourke, Arsalan Akhtar, Nige Netzband, Jack Hollingdale, Daniel...
Simon Ruffell, Sam Gandy, and more
Feb 28, 20242 min read
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...
Torsten Passie
Feb 22, 20241 min read
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.
Shreya Malde and Naumih Noah
Jan 31, 20242 min read
Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns: Cardio-metabolic health
Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns: Cardio-metabolic health. Race differences remain a critically understudied gap in psychedelic li
Sean Matthew Viña
Jan 9, 20241 min read
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
Tom Cooney and Fiona Measham
Nov 21, 20231 min read
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.
Harjeev Kour Sudan, Jane Kim and more
Nov 19, 20232 min read
The impact of over the counter and prescription medication misuse on friends and family
Over the counter and prescription-only medication misuse is of concern. Little is known about the impact on friends/family who provide indiv
Rosalind Gittins, Roya Vaziri, and more
Nov 16, 20232 min read
From prohibited to prescribed: The rescheduling of MDMA and psilocybin in Australia
On February 3, 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, announced that on
Octavian Dixon Ritchie, Cameron Donley and more
Sep 6, 20231 min read
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
Petter Grahl Johnstad
Sep 6, 20231 min read
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy with adolescents suffering from PTSD: Do or don’t? a qualitative study with youth, parents, and clinicians
PTSD in adolescence causes much suffering and has substantial health-care costs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perspective
Anoek Van Vugt, Josjan Zijlmans and more
Sep 1, 20231 min read
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
Zakaria Belrhiti and Fatima Zohra Serghini
Sep 1, 20232 min read
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
Benjamin Korman
Jul 31, 20231 min read
A phenomenological analysis of Fellini's films to understand the effect of LSD therapy on his creativity
Since its discovery in 1943, LSD has been used by artists, scientists, and intellectuals, amongst others, to stimulate their creative insigh
Antonio Metastasio, Silvio Mignogna, and more
Jul 31, 20231 min read
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.
Jon Waldron, Meryem Grabski, and more
Jul 10, 20232 min read
Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns
Although there is a growing support for the use of psychedelics to improve the health of marginalized groups, there are some critical gaps.
Sean Viña and Amanda Stephens
Jun 23, 20231 min read
Italian psychedelic therapies of the past century: An historical overview
In recent years, the historical record of psychedelic therapy in Europe and the Americas has undergone considerable revision.
Adriana D’Arienzo and Giorgio Samorini
Jun 6, 20231 min read
Cost-effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe depression: exploratory findings from a decision analytic model
There is growing evidence to support the use of the psychedelic drug psilocybin for difficult-to-treat depression. This paper compares the c
Paul McCrone, Henry Fisher and more
Jun 2, 20232 min read
Medicinal cannabis for pain: Real-world data on three-month changes in symptoms and quality of life
Internationally, one of the most common conditions for which people seek medicinal cannabis (MC) is chronic pain. However, relatively little
Kylie O’Brien, Justin Beilby and more
May 25, 20232 min read
Does the co-use of cannabis exacerbate the effect of alcohol on the risk of crashing? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Does the co-use of cannabis exacerbate the effect of alcohol on the risk of crashing? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Michael White and Nicholas Burns
May 25, 20231 min read
ARC: a framework for access, reciprocity and conduct in psychedelic therapies
The field of psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT) is growing at an unprecedented pace. The immense pressures this places on those working in t
Meg Spriggs, Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner and more
May 11, 20232 min read
Characteristics of and 3-month health outcomes for people seeking treatment with prescribed cannabis
Medicinal cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018 but there is limited information about characteristics of people seeking prescribed
Professor Michael Lynskey, Dr Anne Schlag and more
May 5, 20232 min read
A roadmap for psychedelic pharmacy in Canada
The unprecedented progress in the science and clinical investigation of psychedelic medicine will require those in healthcare leadership and
Jaden Brandt
Apr 26, 20231 min read
Decriminalisation of drug possession in Oregon: Analysis and early lessons
In November 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 110, a ballot initiative that decriminalized possession of small quantities of all drugs an
Kellen Russoniello, Sheila Vakharia and more
Apr 11, 20231 min read
The use of chlordiazepoxide for outpatient gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) detoxification: An observational study
Various detoxification regimens are used for gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), including diazepam, barbiturates, ba
Alfred Balston, Kuljit Hunjan and more
Apr 6, 20232 min read
Medication sparing after medical cannabis initiation: A case study of a chronic pain patient in T21
Authors Peter Sunderland, David J Nutt, and Anne Katrin Schlag Published March 14th, 2023 Prescribed cannabinoids are legal in the UK and...
Peter Sunderland, Professor David Nutt and more
Mar 14, 20232 min read
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...
Christopher Humphries
Nov 14, 20221 min read
Examining the gender dimension in the non-medical use of over the counter and prescription only medication
There is concern regarding gender differences in problematic non-medical over the counter (OTC) and/or prescription only medication (POM) us
Rosalind Gittins, Joseph Tay Wee Teck, and more
Oct 26, 20222 min read
Psychedelic use predicts objective knowledge about climate change via increases in nature relatedness
Author Christina Sagioglou, Matthias Forstmann Published October 2, 2022 Abstract Lifetime psychedelic substance use has previously been...
Christina Sagioglou and Matthias Forstmann
Oct 2, 20221 min read
A comparative study of the harms of nitrous oxide and poppers using the MCDA approach
Author Plinio M Ferreira, Adam R Winstock, Anne Katrin Schlag, Brigitta Brandner, David Nutt, Graeme Henderson, Ian Miller, Jan Van...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Sep 23, 20222 min read
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the use of psilocybin by veterans with symptoms of trauma
Author FL Smith, JC Neill and V Wainwright Published September 7, 2022 Abstract Veterans are at increased risk of experiencing symptoms...
FL Smith, JC Neill and more
Sep 7, 20221 min read
How to read a paper on the short-term impairing effects of cannabis: A selective and critical review of the literature
Author Michael A White, Nicholas R Burns Published August 15, 2022 Abstract The prosecution of cannabis-presence driving offences (in the...
Michael White and Nicholas Burns
Aug 15, 20222 min read
Comparative harms assessments for cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco: Risk for psychosis, cognitive impairment, and traffic accident
Author Petter Grahl Johnstad Published July 25, 2022 Abstract Researchers have associated cannabis use with risk for psychosis, cognitive...
Petter Grahl Johnstad
Jul 25, 20222 min read
State naloxone co-prescribing laws show mixed effects on overdose mortality rates
Author MaryKate Duska, Jared M. Rhoads, Elizabeth C. Saunders, Tracy Onega Published July 25, 2022 Objective To examine the relative...
MaryKate Duska, Jared Rhoads and more
Jul 25, 20221 min read
Eating ourselves to death: How food is a drug and what food abuse costs
Author Matthew Robinson Published July 18, 2022 Abstract The objective of this paper is to examine definitions of the terms “drug,” “drug...
Matthew Robinson
Jul 18, 20221 min read
The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001: A case study in poor legislative drafting
Author Cathal T Gallagher Published July 11, 2022 Abstract The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (MDRs) create exemptions to the offences...
Cathal Gallagher
Jul 11, 20221 min read
A critical review of drug testing policy in the Philippines
Authors Carissa Paz Dioquino Published May 16, 2022 Abstract The drug policy in the Philippines is written as the Comprehensive Dangerous...
Carissa Paz Dioquino
May 20, 20222 min read
Psychedelics as potential catalysts of scientific creativity and insight
Authors Sam Gandy, Valérie Bonnelle, Edward Jacobs, David Luke Published May 16, 2022 Abstract Creativity, that is the creation of ideas...
Sam Gandy, Valérie Bonnelle and more
May 18, 20222 min read
Farmability and pharmability: Transforming the drug market to a health-and human rights-centred approach from self-cultivation to safe supply of controlled substances
Authors Fabian Pitter Steinmetz, Maja Kohek Published May 3, 2022 Background The supply chains addressing the global demand for major...
Fabian Pitter Steinmetz and Maja Kohek
May 11, 20222 min read
Regulating the oxides of nitrogen – popping the myths
Authors Plinio M Ferreira, David Nutt Published April 25, 2022 In 2015 and 2016, during the debates that culminated in The Psychoactive...
Plinio Ferreira and Professor David Nutt
Apr 29, 20222 min read
Can psilocybin be safely administered under medical supervision? A systematic review of adverse event reporting in clinical trials
Authors Jeremy Roscoe, Olivia Lozy Published March 16, 2022 Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive chemical produced by various...
Jeremy Roscoe and Olivia Lozy
Mar 16, 20222 min read
How does cannabis affect road crash risk? A systematic review and meta-analyses
Authors Michael A. White, Nicholas R. Burns Published December 13, 2021 The development of drug driving policies should rest on sound...
Michael White and Nicholas Burns
Dec 14, 20214 min read
Drug development in psychiatry: 50 years of failure and how to resuscitate it
The past 50 years have seen remarkable advances in the science of medicine. The pharmacological treatments of disorders such as hypertension
David Nutt
Feb 111 min read
MDMA-assisted therapy: challenges, clinical trials, and the future of MDMA in treating behavioral disorders
Despite recent setbacks for the clinical application of MDMA, the chapter argues that it holds potential for transforming psychiatry and
David Nutt
Jan 291 min read
The Australia story: Current status and future challenges for the clinical applications of psychedelics
The past decade has seen a huge increase in clinical research with psychedelic drugs and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
David J Nutt, Peter Hunt, Anne Katrin Schlag and Paul Fitzgerald
Dec 18, 20241 min read
Medical cannabis could save NHS £4 billion each year
Allowing medical cannabis to be prescribed on the NHS for chronic pain could save the state healthcare provider almost £4 billion annually,
Suicidal Ideation in Medicinal Cannabis Patients: A 12-Month Prospective Study
To document the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) among individuals seeking cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs); to
James Bunn
Jul 31, 20242 min read
Prescribed Medical Cannabis Use Among Older Individuals: Patient Characteristics and Improvements in Well‑Being: Findings from T21
There are important differences between individuals aged 65+ years and younger individuals receiving cannabis-based medicinal products. Olde
Michael Lynskey
Jun 17, 20242 min read
Prescribed Medicinal Cannabis for the Treatment of Chronic Pain Comorbid with Depression: Real World Evidence from Project Twenty21
Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions for which people seek treatment with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) and there i
Alkyoni Anthanasiou-Fragkouli
Jun 6, 20242 min read
Medicinal cannabis for treating PTSD and comorbid depression: Real World Evidence from Project T21
Authors Michael Lynskey, Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli, Hannah Thurgur, Anne Schlag and David Nutt Published March 12, 2024 Background...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Mar 12, 20241 min read
Cannabis-based medicinal products for the treatment of Long COVID symptoms: current and potential applications
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can result in a range of persistent symptoms impacting everyday funct
Dr Hannah Thurgur, Dr Anne Schlag, and more
Aug 31, 20231 min read
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
Dr Rose Crossin
Aug 21, 20237 min read
Bayesian analysis of real-world data as evidence for drug approval: Remembering Sir Michael Rawlins
The two pillars of modern medical research are where in most randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the active treatment is compared with plac
Balázs Szigeti, Professor David Nutt and more
Jul 17, 20231 min read
Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future
Psychedelic therapy has witnessed a resurgence in interest in the last decade from the scientific and medical communities with evidence now
Rayyan Zafar, Maxim Siegel and more
Jun 12, 20231 min read
Preliminary findings from T21 Australia
An observational study of patients prescribed medicinal Cannabis for chronic pain, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and multiple...
Kylie O’Brien, Justin Beilby and more
Mar 23, 20232 min read
The value of real world evidence: The case of medical cannabis
Authors Anne Katrin Schlag, Rayyan Zafar, Michael Lynskey, Lawrence D Phillips, Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli, David J Nutt Published...
Professor Michael Lynskey, Dr Anne Schlag and more
Nov 3, 20224 min read
User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study
Authors Robin Carhart-Harris, David Nutt Published July 30, 2010 Abstract This study used a web-based questionnaire to investigate user...
Robin Carhart-Harris and Professor David Nutt
Jul 7, 202232 min read
Cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in fibromyalgia: a review of preclinical and clinical research
Authors Stephanie Bourke, Anne Schlag, Saoirse Elizabeth O’Sullivan, David Nutt, David Finn Published May 21, 2022 Fibromyalgia affects...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Jun 21, 20222 min read
Characteristics of People Seeking Prescribed Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Chronic Pain: Evidence From Project Twenty 21
Authors Anne Katrin Schlag, Michael Lynskey, Alan Fayaz, Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli, Brigitta Brandner, Barbara Haja, Elizabeth Iveson...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Jun 13, 20223 min read
The UK's first unsanctioned overdose prevention site; A proof-of-concept evaluation
Authors Gillian W Shorter, Magdalena Harris, Andrew McAuley, Kirsten MA Trayner, Alex Stevens Published May 4, 2022 Background The United...
Gillian Shorter, Magdalena Harris and more
May 6, 20221 min read
Are psychedelics dangerous? - What the research says
Authors Anne K Schlag, Jacob Aday, Iram Salam, Jo C Neill, David J Nutt Published February 3, 2022 Psychedelic medicines are a rapidly...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Feb 3, 20223 min read
Medical cannabis for severe treatment resistant epilepsy in children: a case series of 10 patients
Authors Rayyan Zafar, Anne Schlag, Lawrence Phillips, David J Nutt Published December 15, 2021 We previously reported on the legalisation...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Dec 15, 20212 min read
Controversies in Medical Cannabis
Authors Anne Katrin Schlag, Saoirse E. O’Sullivan, Rayyan R. Zafar, David J.Nutt Published May 18, 2021 Knowledge about the therapeutic...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
May 18, 20212 min read
Psychedelic Microdosing - Just a Placebo Effect?
Authors: Balázs Szigeti, Laura Kartner, Allan Blemings, Fernando Rosas, Amanda Feilding, David J. Nutt, Robin L. Carhart-Harris, David...
Balázs Szigeti, Professor David Nutt and more
Mar 2, 20212 min read
Medical cannabis dependence: A critical review of issues and evidence
Authors: Anne K Schlag, Chandni Hindocha, Rayyan Zafar, David J Nutt, H Valerie Curran Published: February 17, 2021 This Drug Science...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Feb 17, 20212 min read
So near yet so far: why won’t the UK prescribe medical cannabis?
Authors: David Nutt, Steve Bazire, Lawrence D Phillips, Anne Katrin Schlag Published: September 21, 2020 This Drug Science research was...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Sep 22, 20202 min read
Medical cannabis in the UK: From principle to practice
Authors: Anne Katrin Schlag, David S Baldwin, Michael Barnes, Steve Bazire, Rachel Coathup, H Valerie Curran, Rupert McShane, Lawrence D...
Dr Anne Schlag, Professor David Nutt and more
Aug 20, 20202 min read
First safety study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in patients with alcohol use disorder
Authors: Ben Sessa, Chloe Sakal, Steve O’Brien and David Nutt Published: July 15, 2019 Read the full paper here (open access) We present...
Ben Sessa, Chloe Sakal and more
Jul 22, 20192 min read
New analysis of alcohol and cannabis – what’s the harm?
This blog discusss DrugScience’s latest multi-criterion decision analysis of cannabis and alcohol regulation. Read the open access paper...
Drug Science
Apr 5, 20183 min read
Ketamine as an essential medicine
Authors: Polly Taylor, David Nutt, Val Curran, Rudi Fortson, and Graeme Henderson Published: March 11, 2016 A letter to The Lancet...
Polly Taylor, Professor David Nutt and more
Mar 3, 20161 min read
Drug Science ketamine review
Authors: Celia J. A. Morgan and H. Valerie Curran Published: July 21, 2011 The first comprehensive review of the drug since its...
Celia J. A. Morgan and H. Valerie Curran
Apr 3, 20111 min read
MCDA Comparison of Drug and Alcohol Harms in the UK
Authors: David J Nutt, Leslie A King, and Lawrence D Phillips Published: November 1, 2010 An assessment of the various harms of drugs...
Professor David Nutt, Leslie King and more
Apr 3, 20103 min read
Overdose Prevention Centres, Safe Consumption Sites, and Drug Consumption Rooms: A Rapid Evidence Review
By Dr Gillian W Shorter Drug Science is pleased to announce the release of a rapid evidence review collating and synthesizing the...
Dr Gillian Shorter
Jan 10, 20242 min read
Psilocybin for Existential Distress
Read our latest report on why patients experiencing 'Existential Distress'
ought to be permitted access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherap
James Bunn
Dec 11, 20235 min read
Know Your Rights: Medical Cannabis
Download the free patient Legal Guidance by Drug Science around Medical Cannabis
Drug Science
Nov 2, 20231 min read
The Case for Overdose Prevention Centres in the UK - An Evidence-based approach
Overdose Prevention Services in the UK Drug-related deaths are a public health crisis in the UK, with many deaths linked to injecting...
Drug Science
Oct 27, 20224 min read
YouGov Results - Is the UK Ready to Reschedule Psilocybin?
Summary Full Report Survey Data Does the UK support psilocybin research? Public perceptions of psilocybin-assisted therapy have been...
Drug Science
Jun 3, 20217 min read
Expert Report on cannabis legalisation for the Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats became the first UK political party to call for cannabis legalisation. An expert report was commissioned by the Lib...
Drug Science
Apr 3, 20161 min read
Cannabis Review for the attention of the WHO
Read the full report The scheduling under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs assumes a scientific justification. However, cannabis...
Drug Science
Apr 3, 20163 min read
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