New on the DS blog: An analysis of nearly 2,000 confiscated vapes reveals how social media is fuelling a drug crisis in UK schools — and why banning disposables won’t fix it. drugscience.org.uk/s...

We're thrilled - though hardly surprised - to see Prof David Nutt listed among the likes of Sir Ian McKellen, Ebere Eze, and Prince William on Esquire's "Better Men List 2025," celebrating men who inspire others by "consistently aiming to be better in everything they do." esquire.com/uk/cultu...

We teamed up with YouTuber The Giant Shoulders & psychedelic researcher Dr Grace Blest-Hopley to dive into the neuroscience of cannabis & psychedelics. From THC & psychosis to MDMA, ibogaine & trauma treatment- watch to learn what the science really says. youtube.com/watch?v=...

We’re proud to join the IDPC — a global network of 190+ organisations promoting person-centred, rights-affirming drug policies grounded in evidence & social justice. Together we'll keep advancing reform shaped by science, compassion, and human rights. idpc.net/

Important new findings on harm reduction at music festivals 🎶 A pilot study of a video-based intervention for festival attendees found reduced substance-related harm, positive behaviour change, and improved perceptions of onsite services. Read it now in DSPL⬇️ 🔗 drugscience.org.uk/p...

An inside look at one of modern medicine’s most fascinating evolutions ⬇️ Professor David Nutt’s latest editorial explores how decades of research have reshaped our understanding of ketamine and its growing role in psychiatric treatment. 🔗 journals.sagepub.com...

Poppers have been “popping” up since the 1920s — in clinics, clubs & queer culture. We caught up with Deep Sniff author Adam Zmith to learn what the history of poppers reveals about pleasure, politics & community resistance. 🎧drugscience.org.uk/p... #DrugSciencePodcast

As psychedelics go mainstream, how can we build a psychedelic ecosystem rooted in inclusivity, care, safety & equity? On 22/11, we'll spend the day at KCL reimagining psychedelic culture through inclusivity, accountability, & collective care. Join us ⬇️ eventbrite.co.uk/e/t...

The latest ONS drug death stats confirm what frontline worker Plinio Ferreira sees firsthand: drugs are increasingly dangerous, & the gov is doing little to protect people who use them. He shares what can be done today to stop people from dying tomorrow. drugscience.org.uk/o...

TONIGHT: Professor David Nutt and other leading experts are in Plymouth discussing how psychedelic medicines are transforming addiction and PTSD treatment. Will we see you there? All purchases/donations are split between Drug Science & Heroic Hearts UK 🙏 🔗givewheel.com/fundra...

What does it take to keep showing up for others when your own wellbeing is at risk? @ProfDavidNutt speaks w/ the Scottish Ambulance Service about the emotional weight of emergency work, and how ayahuasca helped them heal its lasting impact. 👇 drugscience.org.uk/p...

Patient access, education, and real-world research can improve the future of medical cannabis in the UK. We explain why in our new response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ call for evidence on cannabis-based products ⬇️ drugscience.org.uk/d...

UK drug overdose deaths are at a 30-year high — but what counts as a drug-related death? Street Drugs Discussions will look at how coroners make those calls, and why it matters for policy, research & public health. Join the free webinar on 26/11. eventbrite.com/e/str...

Can medical cannabis help people sleep better — even when sleep isn’t the main reason for treatment? New Project Twenty21 data suggests prescribed cannabinoids may improve not only primary conditions, but also quality of life through better sleep. drugscience.org.uk/m...

Drug research has been built on male-dominated samples, policies, and assumptions. This month’s Street Drugs Discussions will ask what happens when women’s bodies, lives, and voices are finally included. 🗓️ 24 Oct | 2–4PM BST | Online Register for free: eventbrite.co.uk/e/s...

Strict drug abstinence rules in hostels can lead to unsafe public drug use. In Norway, Huset Bergen offers another way — a high-tolerance housing model open to those experiencing or recovering from substance use. 💲 Donate to help us document its lessons drugscience.org.uk/h...

The overdose crisis in the US demands urgent innovation in both policy & medical technology. A new article explores how existing frameworks designed to mitigate substance use paradoxically restrict the research and development of reversal agents and drug-delivery devices. drugscience.org.uk/o...

Psychedelic research has long grappled with the tension between science and the humanities. Dr. Andy Letcher, a religious scholar with expertise in both, joined Professor David Nutt on the DSP to trace this divide and its influence on the way we study psychedelics. drugscience.org.uk/p...

🚨 New from the Drug Science Medical Psychedelics Working Group: a framework for standardised terminology in psychedelic medicine. From pharmacological classes to micro- vs macrodoses, this paper sets the groundwork for clinical + regulatory clarity. drugscience.org.uk/p...

Terminal diagnoses often bring profound emotional suffering. Profs Joanna Neill & Muireann Quigley and Dr Laura Downey discuss the role of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in palliative care — and why the UK risks falling behind global progress 📑 drugscience.org.uk/e...

As Prof David Nutt notes, we "welcome the Royal College of Psychiatrists' landmark position statement on psychedelics & assisted psychotherapy, which marks a crucial step forward for the UK psychedelic medicine industry." 🔗 We give our full take on the RCPsych report drugscience.org.uk/r...

In a new viewpoint, Prof David Nutt explains how stalled developments in psychiatric medicine can be revitalised by putting psychiatrists back at the heart of innovation - and how the Royal College of Psychiatrists can lead this change. cambridge.org/core/j...

The latest episode of the DSP welcomes Jenny Chapman and Dr. Stephen Naulls, researchers at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and authors of ‘Psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health: Policy considerations.’ drugscience.org.uk/p...

🎙️ New on the DSP: renowned mycologist and educator Darren le Baron shares how he is spreading ethnomycology to the world — from connecting at-risk youth with horticulture to exposing the hidden history of psychedelic use in Africa 🌍 drugscience.org.uk/p...

Festival drug-related deaths are rising, but they don’t have to. In memory of Ellie Rowe and others who have tragically lost their lives at Boomtown in years past, a new blog reinforces the critical role of harm reduction services like The Loop at UK festivals. drugscience.org.uk/b...

Why do some healthcare students turn to substances, despite knowing the risks? Rania Magableh explains how stress, stigma, and lack of awareness drives certain behaviours, and how we can build resilience in the future healthcare workforce. drugscience.org.uk/s...

Nominations are now open for the Cannabis Industry Awards 2025! Who has inspired you? Who is leading with impact? 👉 This is your chance to spotlight the trailblazers and innovators shaping the future of legal cannabis in the UK. cicouncil.org.uk/nom...

For the 3rd year running, we were invited to host a discussion on psychedelics at We Out Here Festival in Dorset. 🌿✨ Panel moderator and DS Senior Researcher Plinio Ferreira reflects on the engaging conversation in a blog on the DS website: drugscience.org.uk/w...

From Royal Marine ➡️ indigenous rights advocate 🌍 @bruceparry (BBC’s Tribe) joins the Drug Science Podcast to talk ayahuasca, psychedelics & lessons in humility. Don’t miss this one 🎙️ drugscience.org.uk/p...

Our response letter to the ACMD presents evidence on ketamine harms that underscore why a public health–centred approach—not harsher criminalisation—is needed to address the health and social consequences of use. drugscience.org.uk/r...

Why do people in Japan use cannabis despite stricter penalties? New research points to distress, relaxation, substitution & self-care. drugscience.org.uk/j...

🚨 It’s back! The Cannabis Industry Awards Dinner 2025 returns November 6🌿✨ Join 150 leaders from the UK’s medical cannabis sector for a night of recognition, inspiration, & celebration at the Honourable Artillery Company in London. 👉 Book your tickets now: tinyurl.com/cannawar...

Cheers to another great year at the We Out Here Festival! Drug Science's Plinio Ferreira led an engaging panel exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics as tools for connection to ourselves, others, & the wider world. A huge thank you to everyone who joined the convo - see you in 2026 ✨

🎙️ New #DrugSciencePodcast: Education + ethics are essential in psychedelics. We speak with Sam Bloomfield & Dr. Eddie Jacobs about how to make access safer, fairer & smarter. drugscience.org.uk/p...

FINAL RECRUITMENT FOR MICRODOSING TRIAL: The Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College is looking for people who are planning to microdose psilocybin or LSD to improve their mental health. Participation can be online, or onsite if based in London.  imperial.ac.uk/psych...

Early Bird tickets for Psymposium Madrid 2025 are almost gone! 🚨 This October, rethink the present & future of mental wellbeing at the leading Spanish-language psychedelic research forum: inawe.life/psymposiu...

UK Greenlights Psychedelic Research Reform 🚨 In a major policy shift, the UK gov supports removing licence requirements for research on Schedule 1 drugs like #psilocybin & #MDMA. We unpack what this means for the future of psychedelic science in the UK 👇 drugscience.org.uk/u...

"I had a really significant ceremonial experience. And I was like... I'm in medical school. Why are we not talking about this kind of healing?" Dr. Joe Tafur shares what he's discovered about the role of spiritual healing in modern healthcare 🌿🎧 ⬇️ drugscience.org.uk/p...

🧠✨ In our latest #DrugSciencePodcast episode, we speak with award-winning author Mike Jay about Free Radicals — his fascinating book on how Romantic-era scientists pioneered psychedelic science through experiments with laughing gas. 🎈 drugscience.org.uk/p...

Despite high rates of opioid-related deaths, the Ontario gov decided to ban safer supply programs in 2024 — shutting down federally funded sites and reversing years of harm reduction progress. A new op-ed critiques the rollback and its public health impact👇drugscience.org.uk/s...

Hang out with @ProfDavidNutt and fellow health-tech innovators at THE FIX — the bold, counter-intuitive festival at Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire on Sept 18. 🎟️Tickets are on sale now. Psst: Drug Science community members get 20% off! thefix.io/

Applications are still open for PsyEdu’s Certificate in Psychedelic Practice 🚀 A 1-year, scientifically rigorous, ethically-grounded programme for health, social care, & CAM professionals working with — or planning to work with — #psychedelic medicines. 📅 Deadline: 1/8 drugscience.org.uk/c...

A 5-year review of hangover products on Amazon.com reveals major shifts in the US market: 📉 Only 14 of 82 products from 2019 remained in 2024 🧪 40% of products made illegal disease claims 🔬 None are scientifically proven to work drugscience.org.uk/h...

Last week, New Zealand entered a new era of mental healthcare. For the first time, a psychiatrist was authorised to prescribe psilocybin for T-RD outside of a clinical trial. Is broader access next? We break down what this milestone means for psychedelic therapy in NZ. drugscience.org.uk/n...

Seeking advanced training in #PsychedelicMedicine? We're proud to endorse Psy Edu's Certificate in Psychedelic Practice. Health, social care, & CAM professionals looking for a scientifically rigorous and ethically grounded programme need look no further👇 drugscience.org.uk/c...

New research in Drug Science Policy and Law reveals that drug criminalisation may actually increase drug use among people facing trauma and social instability. 📖drugscience.org.uk/d... #DrugPolicy #PublicHealth #HarmReduction

Should we be viewing #Psychedelics as tools rather than treatments? Authors of a new DSPL publication suggest this reframing could help resolve current regulatory challenges. drugscience.org.uk/r...

Don’t forget to grab your ticket for our one-of-a-kind event on psychedelics and trauma recovery in athletes 🏃‍♂️💊 Hear from top athletes and scientists as they explore how psychedelics may support healing from both physical and mental trauma. 📅 July 2 🎟️ eventbrite.co.uk/e/p...

Dr. Anne Schlag was honoured to accept the Medicinal Cannabis Congress 2025 Research Award on behalf of Prof. David Nutt. 👏 A big congratulations to everyone making meaningful contributions to the field of medical cannabis research! #MCC2025 medicinal-cannabis-c...

Had an incredible time at @WeHeroicHearts's recent event on psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD. Curious about other ways psychedelics can support healing? Join us 2/7 to explore their role in trauma recovery among elite athletes 🏃 eventbrite.co.uk/e/p...