In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we speak with Sam Bloomfield, founder of PsyEdu, and Dr. Eddie Jacobs, the first person to complete a doctorate in psychedelic ethics. Drawing on their backgrounds in education and ethics, they explore why these perspectives are essential to the evolving field of psychedelics. They also discuss the role of trials, clinics, and retreats within the broader psychedelic ecosystem, highlighting a major blind spot: the vast majority of psychedelic experiences occur outside of these settings. The conversation additionally examines how understandings of medicine often must adapt to the unique nature of psychedelics. Throughout, they underscore the importance of education in driving long-term policy change that ensures safer, more equitable, and more ethical psychedelic access.

Psychedelic Training in the UK

PsyEdu

Beckley Foundation

Psychedelic Ethics 

Psilocybin

MDMA

MAPS

Public Attitudes to Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy

HOPE Statement

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we meet with Dr. Joe Tafur, MD, an integrative Family Physician, curandero, author and speaker. He discusses his book, The Fellowship of the River, exploring the role of spiritual healing in modern healthcare. Within this episode. Tafur further delves into topics such as biological and psychological links to Generational trauma as well as the relationship between spiritual practice and healing. 

Dr Joe Tafur

Modern Spirit

Medicine Song

Fellowship of the river

Intro into Therapeutic psychedelics

Depression

Peyote

Ayahuasca

Emotional dysregulation

Mamos

Inner child

Psoriasis 

Migraine

Allostatic load

Allostasis 

Epigenetics

Meditation

Support the Podcast Link

In this episode of the drug science Podcast, we meet with Mike Jay, author and 2024 Cheiron Book Prize winner who has written extensively on scientific and medical history with a special interest in Psychedelics. 

In this Podcast, he discusses with us his newest book, Free Radicals: How a Group of Romantic Experimenters Gave Birth to Psychedelic Science, which tells the story of early invention and experimentation with Nitrous Oxide (Laughing gas). He discusses various key figures at this time and the work they conducted, including Humphry Davy and Thomas Beddoes as well as discussing early theories into the potential use of gas in medicine which lead to the development of the Pneumatic Institute. Further, they discuss how this 18th-century research links to the psychedelic renaissance 

Free Radicals: How a Group of Romantic Experimenters Gave Birth to Psychedelic Science

Mike Jay Author

Humphrey Davy

Humphry Davy Book

Thomas Beddoes

Joseph Priestley

Davis Giddy

Miners lung

Tuberculosis

Michael Pollan

Default mode network

Mescaline Drug Science Podcast with Mike Jay

Link in show notes 

Join us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, where we talk with Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, Director of Research for Heroic Hearts Project UK, Chief Scientific Officer of NW PharmaTech, and founder and CEO of Hystelica. In the episode, she explore where psychedelic studies have largely ignored women’s physiology, particularly in failing to acknowledge and control for hormonal fluctuations. Grace particularly emphasises the necessity for greater investigations and understandings around the intersection of psychedelics and the menstrual cycle, explaining how Hystelica attempts to bridge this gap with naturalistic and observational studies. Throughout, the discussion examines how, by researching these unknowns, we can discover new treatment opportunities that better serve women’s health.

Heroic Hearts Project UK

Hystelica

NWPharmaTech

MDMA

Psilocybin Retreats Study

Mothers of the mushroom

Microdosing Study

In this latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we talk with Natalia Rebollo and Jesús Alonso Olamendi of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS). They discuss the lasting legacy of colonialism in the psychedelic culture of indigenous communities, stressing the need for the sacredness of these substances to be uplifted and not commodified. Throughout, they explore their work with ICEER’s Ayahuasca Defense Fund and how it has begun to change the narrative surrounding psychedelics in prohibitionist countries. Operating between indigenous communities and the Western world, they provide a unique perspective that shows how both communities can learn from each other.

ICEERS

Ayahuasca Defense Fund

Ayahuasca

DMT

Ayahuasca Legal Battle in France

Technical Report on Ayahuasca

Colombia's CND68 Resolution

Ibogaine

Spanish Ibogaine Trial

Contact Email

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where David Nutt meets with Tim Kerr, a doctoral research student in Psychiatry at King’s College London. Tim discusses his journey from slowly falling into drug addiction and dealing whilst studying for his medical degree eventually leading to arrest and imprisonment. Tim shares how he used this time in an open prison to apply for and study a Neuroscience masters with Kings College London with the support of the Longford trust, a charity that supports people with lived experience of prison to access higher education.

 
 The Longford Trust

Howard League for Penal Reform

NHS Practitioner Health

Alcoholic liver disease

Jaundice

Ecstasy

Ketamine

Cocaine

Freud and cocaine

Nitrous oxide

GHB 

Spice

Weed

Venlafaxine

Modafinil 

Open and closed Prison

Alcoholics Anonymous

Join us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast where David Nutt meets with Psychedelic psychotherapy experts Laurie Higbed and Owain Winfield to dive into how to use psychedelics in psychotherapy. In this episode, they discuss the different techniques used with different psychedelics for different conditions to optimise this type of therapy and why these differences are necessary. They discuss MDMA, Ketamine and Psilocybin in a range of applications including trauma and addictions.

MDMA

Ketamine

Psilocybin

Substance Misuse

PTSD

MAPS

MDMA study into Substance Use Disorder

Compass Pathways

Compass Pathways Psilocybin for Treatment Resistant Depression

Awakn life sciences

Amygdala

Link in show notes

In this episode, we meet with Bessel van Der kolk, a trauma based psychiatrist, author, researcher and educator. Since the 1970s his research has been in the area of post-traumatic stress and he is the author of four books including best seller “the body keeps score”. Within this episode, he dives into what trauma is and different research into the impact trauma can have on the body and brain. He further discusses various traditional and alternative treatments for trauma and where these may be appropriate for different people with specific emphasis on EMDR and MDMA.

The body keeps score 

Nutt's paper lancet psychiatry 50 years of failure 

MDMA 

SSRI

EMDR 

Gaba

Benzodiazepines

Rorschach test

Norepinephrine 

Bowlby 

MAPS

When the spirit catches you, you fall down

Neuroplasticity 

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, David Nutt meets with psychopharmacologist Phil Cowen and Psychiatrist Sameer Jauhar  to discuss the neuroscience behind and treatments for depression. Within the episode they touch on various neurotransmitters involved in depression as well as research studies into each of their impact, stigma around antidepressants and the role of psychedelics in treatment.

Depression

Serotonin

Tryptophan

Hamilton depression scale

Antidepressants

Geddes paper on preventing relapse

Support the Podcast

In this episode of the Drug Science podcast, we speak with Josh Dugdale of the Wasing Estate, described as a "mindful aristocrat." He shares his experiences with Ayahuasca in the Amazon and how they influenced his journey upon returning to the UK. Josh discusses the creation of a mindful and spiritual festival during the pandemic, its evolution over time, and its wider impact. He also explores the challenges surrounding psilocybin access rights, the changes needed in this area, and what the future of psychedelic reform might look like.

Medicine Festival 

Psilocybin Access Rights

Ayahuasca

Psilocybin

MDMA

Drug Science Reschedule Psilocybin

Medical Cannabis

PTSD Veterans 

PTSD

Industrial Hemp Licensing

DEFRA

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