Psychedelic scientist @ Sheppard Pratt. Conducted seminal psychedelic research for 20 years at Hopkins. Expertise in many drugs, behavioral economics, addiction
Jan 17 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
Nicotine-reduction is an idea kicked around for decades in the tobacco research field. Most fellow tobacco researchers have vehemently supported this plan. Like Captain Ahab, they tend to be so focused on their goal that they are blind to the downsides. Below I post a couple of recent studies I published that should cause concern about moving ahead with this unprecedented policy. I predict we would see a massive expansion in black market cigarettes as a result of this policy.
This is a recently double-blind RCT looking at different levels of nicotine, and their effect on smoking before and after a few weeks of exposure. We found very little unique effect of reduced nicotine on smoking. Exposure to experimental cigarettes reduced smoking, but this was true for full and reduced nicotine cigarette exposure. I think researchers have missed the confound that the experimental cigarettes used in these studies just don't taste good, and this might be responsible for some of the effects in the field suggesting a reduction in smoking.
I think the biggest meta level issue with psychedelic medicine & science, manifested in countless ways, is that it's an unprecedented virtue signaling machine. The spiritual effects are very effective at providing cover for unethical behavior.
Ends-justifies-the-means thinking pervades. What's not justified when "saving the species" or channeling "the divine"? The normal rules don't apply. Minimize the bad. Fluff up the good. Don't ask the questions that might provide ammunition to critics.
Nov 18, 2023 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
A psilocybin patient stating her post-treatment suicidal ideation was judged unrelated to psilocybin despite her claiming a link. I've seen up close too many efforts to "protect" psychedelic research. Psychedelics are very promising, but we need to be principled.
The notion that psychedelics will save our species is very dangerous as it justifies any effort to protect this research no matter what principles are broken. Too much cult like thinking even among scientists.
Jan 11, 2023 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
I regret being interviewed for this article about psychedelics & Prince Harry w Daily Mail (& now copy cat articles also quote me). Many of my words were distorted or out of context. Biased & distasteful. dailymail.co.uk/health/article…
I should have declined any story with this backdrop. I have no interest commenting on any family's internal issues. Distasteful. Made it clear I wasn't commenting on them specifically. I thought I could provide nuance & balance but that didn't happen.
Dec 26, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
When I warn against being a psychedelic science guru, I don’t mean sharing expertise w/ public e.g. Neil deGrasse Tyson as an astrophysics “guru." Rather I mean going beyond the basis of a mental health professional/scientist & teaching patients pseudo-religious explanations.
Experts should inform the public. Professors should profess. But the temptation of the practitioner to distort psychedelic therapy into their own metaphysical or quasi-religious framework is going to pose major challenges for the future of this field.
Mar 20, 2020 • 11 tweets • 5 min read
I’m no virologist but I’m a drug scientist so here are my expert recommendations regarding COVID-19 and substance use. (1/11)
