Dr Doris Answers the Internet

So, remember how a couple of weeks ago a big-deal study dropped, showing that psilocybin (the stuff in 'magic mushrooms') might be effective in treating depression? (If not, here's a little thing I wrote about it along with the paper itself and other resources.) At the time, the Internet had a lot to say about it. I addressed some of the comments and questions, and then promptly forgot to post my answers.

So here they are now - a bit delayed but nonetheless still useful (I hope).

Do feel free to shoot more questions my way, I love answering the Internet about drugs and brains.

this is really, really good.

The war on drugs, explained

i'm in love with the coco

Right, so, my work recently got an email from a journalist:

"I'm writing a feature about cocaine cut with coconut extract doing the rounds, and I was wondering whether I could talk to anyone about the science behind the two being combined, and whether it can impact how safe it is."

My reaction (and that of just about anyone I asked) was a general "what the...?!" - especially b/c I later learned that, of all things, this was meant to be an indicator of purity - and my response accordingly read:

"Hi, I'm happy to help if I can, but.... are you sure this is a thing?? Where did you hear about this?" 

Sure enough though, it turned out to be a thing, and I did my best to answer the questions shot my way (...with a straight face - thankfully they were in writing). I don't know what - if any of it - will make it into the article, but here's what I had to say about that.

I'd love to hear what those in the know have to say about it, btw. I'm only as smart as a ~1hr Google search here.

On hallucinogens and intimate partner violence

One of the latest papers to come out on the science of psychedelics, published last month in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, made quite a splash when it suggested that hallucinogens could have a “protective effect” on intimate partner violence (IPV, aka domestic violence).

I was asked my opinion on this. I had an opinion or two.

Whole-plant marijuana study underway at last!

Hooray! From the MAPS press release:

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has formally approved the first-ever randomized controlled trial of whole plant medical marijuana (cannabis). The DEA’s approval marks the first time a clinical trial intended to develop smoked botanical marijuana into a legal prescription drug has received full approval from U.S. regulatory agencies, including the DEA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

I wrote a little thing about the study last year. Read on after the jump.

i've been on the internet recently.

Drug Policies and Electronic Music Culture

Drug Policies and Electronic Music

French Clinical Trial Caught Up in Media Frenzy

Why Music Sounds Better When You're High

Don't believe the hype

By now you've probably heard about the very unfortunate incident in France, where a Serious Adverse Event in a Phase I Clinical Trial left several people hospitalised, one with irreversible brain damage. 

While my condolences go out to all involved, my deference to all the Drug War soldiers, rejoicing that it was a cannabis-derived drug (or even, somehow, cannabis?!), does not. Hate to tell ya, but the news were wrong. The drug that was being tested had nothing to do whatsoever with cannabis, any of the compounds in it, or anything derived from it. #sorrynotsorry