101. LSD, Nazis and the CIA with Norman Ohler

In this episode, Prof Neill and Dr Thurgur meet with Dr Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist known for studying social behaviour and psychedelic drugs. Together, they explore the role of critical periods in trauma and mental health; following the potential of Psychedelics in reopening critical periods which were previously thought to be closed, they debate whether a critical period closing is ever truly permanent.Critical periodSensitive periodLorenz 1935MDMAcocaineOxytocinIbogainepsilocybinTheory of mindAlbert HofmannSchizophreniaBecome a Drug Science Community Member ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Prof Nutt meets with German author Norman Ohler as he speaks about his new book “Tripped” which addresses drug use in post-Nazi Germany. Ohler shares how a secret history held back therapeutic research of psychedelic drugs for decades and eventually Nazi policies became part of the foundation of America’s War on Drugs. Ohler discusses theories as to why substances have been omitted from certain parts of history. This episode delves into deep debates regarding the weaponisation of substances within war environments, touching upon the CIA’s attempts to weaponise psychedelics such as LSD in their MK Ultra experiments. MethamphetamineAmphetamineBlitzkriegBlitzed – drugs in nazi Germany bookLSDTrippedCocaineAlbert HofmannPsychedelics David NuttBecome a drug science community member  ★ Support this podcast ★

On the 100th Episode of the Drug Science podcast, Prof David Nutt meets with Dr James Rucker to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maudsley Hospital. James shares his experiences as one of the first clinicians in a psychedelic study hosted by David Nutt before explaining his own personal journey into psychedelic research. Starting from a PhD in Genetics, James’ interest shifted, becoming increasingly interested in psychiatry and discusses his research into psilocybin regarding both its optimum dosage as well as its effectiveness in treatment resistant depression. DepressionMaudsley HospitalMaudsley Hospital Psychedelic ResearchNIHRCompass pathwaysPsilocybinMagic medicine documentaryMdma Dmt KetamineMAPSSupport the Podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we meet with Jane Slater, co-founder of Anyone’s Child and Anne Marie, a mother who tragically lost her child, Martha, to an accidental overdose. Anne and Jane discuss the consequences of drug policy failures and the need for safe drug use education, drawing in on Anne’s personal journey. She discusses the pain of losing a loved one to a preventable drug related death and how this pain led to the start of Anyone's Child - creating a voice for those who have been directly impacted by drug policy failures and are now calling for the legal control and regulation of the drug market.Anyone's childTransform drugsAnyone's Child Get involvedRelease Harm Reduction AdviceDrug informationEcstasyHeroinOverdose prevention centresThe loopHow to regulate psychedelics bookGood Morning Britain Dealing with griefUNGAS 2016 ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's episode, we feature John Marks, an Addiction Psychologist who spearheaded the Merseyside experiment in northwest England from 1982 to 1995. Throughout this 13-year period, Marks fearlessly operated clinics in Liverpool, basing his practice on the long-term maintenance prescribing of opiates to opiate users.The high media profile of his work, set against the backdrop of febrile local politics in Liverpool, brought immense political pressure. This pressure eventually led to the closure of the clinics.Tune in to this episode as John Marks shares his first-hand experiences, recounting the challenges, triumphs, and controversies surrounding his work on the experiment. He provides insights into the intricacies of the UK's drug laws and discusses their impact on his experiment.Alcohol heroinMisuse of drugs act 1971The ‘Classic paper’ – The North Wind and the SunAccidy, Addiction and the ProhibitionElectroencephalographic Correlates of PsychometryEEG and PsychometryThe Cartesian Bridge: On the Psychology of Consciousness and the Psychopathology of Addiction and SchizophreniaNorth wind and the sunCounty linesSupport the podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we meet with Patrick Cox, a fashion designer with a background collaborating with Vivienne Westwood. Patrick shares his personal journey from his lifestyle in fashion, led to confronting deep-seated intergenerational trauma. Patrick opens up about undertaking the highly secretive Hoffman Process, and the transformative impact this had on him. From there, he further recounts his journey through the healing use of psychedelics, emphasising the transformative power of ego death. Patrick highlights how this journey led to him becoming a 5-MeO facilitator, and guiding others through these healing experiences.5-MEOVivienne WestwoodThe Hoffman processChristopher HitchensLSDCannabisAyahuasca Ego DeathHermet phaseSupport the Podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, David Nutt meets with Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the Independent and Evening Standard newspaper. Lebedev shares his transformative journey during his first Ayahuasca ceremony in Costa Rica. Throughout the episode, Lebedev not only shares insight into the ceremony's practices but also describes each personal ayahuasca experience and the themes that tied them together. He highlights his revelations resulting from the ceremony and they discuss the potential of psychedelics within healing practices.  AyahuascaPsilocybinLSDDMTSmall PharmaMedical CannabisVietnam hippiesOCDDepressionDr Gabor MateSupport the podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

In the last episode of our live series, David meets with Sorcha as she explains her ongoing research into using low dose psilocybin in treating OCD. She discusses the pre-existing treatment paradigms for OCD and highlights the potential benefits of Psilocybin assisted psychotherapy in future treatment. She overviews her current study and the theories behind it.   SchizophreniaOCDPsilocybinSSRI              NeuroplasticityThe Mushroom CureSupport the Podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

Tomasso discusses his journey on how he became interested in neuroscience and how that lead to him becoming involved with the UK's leading Psychedelic Research Centre. He discusses the potential of psychedelics in promoting positive sexual wellbeing and healthy relationships. He discusses research into the advantages of using psilocybin as an alternative to SSRI’s as well as the potential uses of MDMA in promoting communication within relationships.   DMT5-MEO DMTPsilocybinMDMAMAPSTreatment resistant PTSDOxytocinSupport the Podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

David talks to Hannah, a 3rd year PhD student as she discusses her research into using psychedelics to treat eating disorders. She highlights how following personal experiences she came to find current treatment methods for anorexia were not sufficient and instead began conducting her own research with Imperial College London to investigate psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat eating disorders. Hannah explains the theories underlying this research as well as the neuroplasticity following from psilocybin which may increase its effectiveness in mental health treatment AnorexiaEating disorder SerotoninayahuascaPsilocybinNeuroplasticityBecome a Drug Science Community Member ★ Support this podcast ★