After positive clinical trials for antiviral drug Molnupiravir, it joins other medicines that have shown promiseCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe first clinical trial results showing a positive effect for a pill that can b…
UK drug laws used as tool of systemic racism, says ex-No 10 adviser
Simon Woolley says failure of drugs legislation is having a devastating impact on public healthBritain’s drug laws are racist and cause “high levels of mental health harm” among black people, a former No 10 race adviser has said.Simon Woolley said drug…
‘Psychedelics renaissance’: new wave of research puts hallucinogenics forward to treat mental health
In what’s been described as a ‘paradigm shifter’ for psychiatry, clinical trials are exploring the therapeutic use for illegal substancesIt was out of desperation that Michael Raymond found himself sitting in a remote retreat in the Peruvian Andes, sip…
Scotland proposes warnings for some class A drug users
Police can issue warnings in policy change unveiled by Scottish lord advocate in response to high death tollIndividuals caught in possession of class A drugs in Scotland could be issued with a police warning rather than facing prosecution, in a signifi…
Religious rehab centres fill gap as Nigeria grapples with soaring drug use
With poverty deepening, state services are failing to cope with rising rates of addictionKola* was in secondary school in Nigeria when he started smoking cigarettes. He soon graduated to cannabis, heroin and eventually to crack cocaine. Access to drugs…
British gangs and international rivals join forces to increase cocaine sales
Analysis by National Crime Agency finds more than 1,700 UK criminal groups involved in drug supplyBritish organised crime groups are collaborating closely with former international rivals like the Italian mafia to import increasingly bigger cocaine shi…
Cocaine, the yuppie drug? Not now, say experts – its lure is crossing all classes
Once a potent symbol of 1980s excess, the class A narcotic has become commonplace. So how do we curb its soaring use?Police had more than a passing interest in the Kahu when they pinpointed the former navy patrol boat floating off south Devon 10 days a…
Ministers told to bar EU from UK trial data in vaccines row
England’s deputy medical chief asked for data to be withheld unless British vaccine guinea pigs allowed to travel abroad• Coronavirus – latest updates• See all our coronavirus coverageEngland’s deputy chief medical officer asked ministers to withhold a…
New drug could slow tumour regrowth in inoperable bowel cancer
Adavosertib found to delay tumour growth in some patients in clinical trial, with few side effectsResearchers have identified a potential new targeted treatment for incurable bowel cancer.The medication has shown promise in a clinical trial in slowing …
Journey Clinical raises $3M to allow psychotherapists to prescribe psychedelics
Psychedelics companies are all the rage right now. Compass Pathways is working with the magic mushroom compound psilocybin to treat depression. It’s has raised $290 million in total. Atai Life Sciences — backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel — brought in $258 million from its IPO. In the tech space, this has not gone unnoticed […]