In this episode, we meet with Darren Murphy, a Chemsex Specialist Practitioner at Forward Leeds, to discuss chemsex, addiction, as well as addressing the link with the LGBTQ+ community. Darren shares his personal journey, navigating the challenges of drug addiction and everything which came with it. Realising the limited support available for people engaging in chemsex, Darren shares how he uses his experiences to help others overcome similar struggles.

ChemSex and Being Safer

Methamphetamine

mephedrone

GHB

Poppers

Cocaine

Mdma

Ketamine

Eating disorder

HIV

Narcotics Anonymous

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In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Simon Ruffell, a psychiatrist and ayahuasca researcher with extensive experience working with Indigenous communities in the Amazon Basin. He discusses the potential of Indigenous medicines to complement Western psychiatric care and reduce relapse rates. Dr. Ruffell compares Western and Indigenous approaches to using spiritual plants, addressing the ongoing debate about how to respectfully integrate Indigenous medicine into Western healthcare as well as highlighting the key differences between commercial ayahuasca retreats and authentic Indigenous practices. Lastly, he discusses aspects of Shipibo culture and a journey into Shamanism.

Ayahuasca

DMT

Psilocybin

Psychosis

Revolving door syndrome

Shipibo

Heroic Hearts

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Dr Simon Ruffell

Onaya Health

Onaya Science

Mind over matter

Participation in an indigenous Amazonian-led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness

Ceremonial Ayahuasca in Amazonian Retreats

Modulatory effects of ayahuasca on personality structure in a traditional framework

In this episode, we meet with Dr Karenza Moore as she discusses changes in drug trends in the UK, focusing on the motivations, risks, and patterns of drug use, particularly among young people. Karenza identifies trends in drug use, including the impact of the lockdown on substance abuse. She also examines various drug trends within dance music culture, which leads to a discussion of safer partying practices, with a particular focus on the LGBT community and the importance of staying safe during a night out. Finally she addresses the challenges of conducting research in this area and outlines strategies for overcoming these barriers to gain a comprehensive understanding of substance use.

Ketamine

MDMA

Mephedrone

Release

Transform

Beckleys foundation

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