The Drug Science Podcast

Professor David Nutt begins season 2 by taking a deep dive into entheogenic plants with a legend of the psychedelic renaissance - Dennis McKenna. Dennis deliberates on his life’s work, ethnobotany, innovation within psychedelic industry, the therapeutic potential of DMT and the indigenous use of ayahuasca. Dennis McKenna's research has focused on the interdisciplinary study of Amazonian ethnopharm...

How can psychedelics be used to help healthy people? In our last episode we heard about how psychedelics can be used to help the sick, but what about the healthy? Wellbeing is becoming an increasingly studied element of everyday living. Those that maintain and take active steps to better their own wellbeing are happier people, who are more content with their own existence. One way in which people...

What is the role of psychedelics in medicine? The question professor David Nutt, Michelle Baker Jones and Matt Jackson will be discussing, in the first EVER live Drug Science podcast recording! The world is entering a new phase of psychiatric treatments. Traditional pharmacology is currently unable to address the decline of mental health and wellbeing. Professor Nutt has assembled some of the best...

Professor David Nutt sits down with Mark Johnson and Ian Miller to discuss the science, and challenge the concept, of addiction. • Why do some people become ‘addicted’ to drugs and others do not? • Is addiction physical or psychological? • Should drug and alcohol services focus on the drug or the individual? • How do we as a society treat the cause of addiction? To answer these questions, Professo...

Professor David Nutt sits down with Joss Stone, Suzi Gage & Hannah Deacon to discuss the recent progress and biggest issues relating to medicinal cannabis. Many people up and down the country have turned to cannabis to alleviate pain & reduce symptoms of a wide range of ailments. Despite this, the drug still carries hefty penalties of up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both for...

Professor David Nutt sits down with Fiona Measham, Anna Wade & Janine Milburn for an in depth look into why drug testing is so vital at festivals and beyond. Topics discussed include; Janine's views following her daughters accidental overdose, how drug testing works at The Loop's facilities, tackling the idea that the practice sends 'mixed messages', what happens in other countries & the r...

Professor David Nutt, Doctor Christian Jessen and Adrian Chiles in a wide-ranging, frank and open conversation on the topic of alcohol - exploring such topics as their own relationship with alcohol, a ‘healthy’ amount of units a week, binge vs regular drinking, self-medication, health and social ‘benefits’ and harms, the hypocrisy of current regulation, David’s invention of a calorie free, non-tox...