Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
April 6, 2026
Kirsten L Rock, Paul Rees, David Morgan et al.
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is being investigated as a new therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With antidepressants as the first-line pharmacotherapy for PTSD, it is important to understand any drug-drug interactions between antidepressants and MDMA. This study aimed to investigate the association between antidepressant use and MDMA fatality using a drug-death...
BMJ
February 3, 2026
Adam Winstock, David Nutt, Caroline S Copeland
Without parallel public health action, reclassifying ketamine risks being a symbolic gesture rather than a strategy to reduce harm, write Adam Winstock, David Nutt, and Caroline Copeland
Journal of Psychopharmacology
September 29, 2025
Jade Pullen, John Corkery, Rebecca Mcknight et al.
3 citations
There has been an acceleration in deaths following illicit ketamine in recent years, which are increasingly featuring complex patterns of polydrug use and socio-economic vulnerability. Policy responses must extend beyond single-substance legislative controls to encompass harm reduction, treatment integration, and social support strategies.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
July 9, 2025
Jade Pullen, Robert Moore, Rebecca Wood et al.
1 citation
N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a hallucinogen found in the South American Psychotria viridis plant and is the major psychoactive ingredient in the brew ayahuasca. In this report we performed a review of the surrounding literature and detail two deaths which recently occurred in the UK following DMT use. A literature search of both academic (PubMed, GoogleScholar) and media (using Google...
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
July 1, 2025
John Martin Corkery, Caroline S Copeland, Fabrizio Schifano
2 citations
Diarylethylamine drugs possess dissociative properties. These emerged as drugs of misuse, with reports of strong addictive potential, high tolerance and compulsive intake. Since one of these drugs, diphenidine, was added to the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the United Kingdom (UK) had to consider its control. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 2023 advice included...
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
January 10, 2025
Emma I Kopra, Jenni Penttinen, James J Rucker et al.
9 citations
Psychedelic drugs are increasingly visible in society once more, but their risks and adverse effects have received less attention than perhaps they should. While fatalities associated with psychedelics appear rare, a systematic approach to characterising their aetiology is required to inform harm minimisation efforts. This study aimed to analyse prevalence and characteristics of...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
June 7, 2022
Emma I Kopra, Jason Ferris, James Rucker et al.
42 citations
Background: Recreational lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use is growing in popularity amid increasing research interest on psychedelics and their possible therapeutic potential yet; the potent psychotropic effects of LSD may result in adverse reactions and behaviour. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the 12-month incidence and nature of LSD-related adverse experiences resulting in...
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
May 20, 2022
Caroline S Copeland, Simon Hudson, Ric Treble et al.
9 citations
The phencyclidine derivative 3-methoxyphencyclidine (3-MeO-PCP) is a potent dissociative hallucinogen. Sought for recreational use as a novel psychoactive substance, it can also induce acute psychological agitation and pathophysiological cardiorespiratory effects. Due to the harms associated with its use, 3-MeO-PCP was added to the "Green List" of materials covered by the 1971 Convention on...