David Nutt
David Nutt | |
---|---|
Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ISCD) The European Brain Council | |
Thesis | The effect of convulsions and drugs on seizure susceptibility in rats (1982) |
Website | drugscience |
David John Nutt (born 16 April 1951) is an English neuropsychopharmacologist specialising in the research of drugs that affect the brain and conditions such as addiction, anxiety, and sleep.[6] He is the chairman of Drug Science, a non-profit which he founded in 2010 to provide independent, evidence-based information on drugs.[7] Until 2009, he was a professor at the University of Bristol heading their Psychopharmacology Unit.[8] Since then he has been the Edmond J Safra chair in Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London and director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences there.[9] Nutt was a member of the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and was President of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology.[10][11][12]
Career summary and research
Nutt completed his secondary education at Bristol Grammar School and then studied medicine at Downing College, Cambridge, graduating in 1972. In 1975, he completed his clinical training at Guy's Hospital.[13]
He worked as a clinical scientist at the
In 2007 Nutt published a study on the harms of drug use in
Through Drug Science, Nutt has released a number of prominent drug policy reports while launching campaigns in support of evidence-based drug policy. These include Project Twenty21, the Medical Cannabis Working Group, and the Medical Psychedelics Working Group.[7] In 2013, Drug Science launched the peer-reviewed Journal of Drug Science, Policy and Law, with Nutt appointed as Editor.[19] Nutt also hosts the Drug Science Podcast, where he explores drugs and drug policy with drug policy experts, policy-makers, and scientists.[20]
Nutt is the deputy head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London.
In November 2010, Nutt published another study in The Lancet, co-authored with Les King and Lawrence Phillips on behalf of this independent Committee. This ranked the harm done to users and society by a range of drugs.[23] Owing in part to criticism over the arbitrary weighting of the factors in the 2007 study,[18][24] the new study employed a multiple-criteria decision analysis procedure and found that alcohol is more harmful to society than both heroin and crack, while heroin, crack, and methamphetamine are the most harmful drugs to individuals.[23] Nutt has also written about this topic in newspapers for the general public,[25] sometimes leading to public disagreements with other researchers.[26]
Nutt is also campaigning for a change in UK drug laws to allow for more research opportunities.[27][28][29][30]
Alcarelle and GABA Labs
Starting in around 2014, Nutt began talking about bringing to market a compound that could mimic some of the effects of alcohol (
In 2018 Nutt's company GABALabs (previously called "Alcarelle") applied for patents for a series of new compounds, branded as Alcarelle,[32] that more closely mimic the "conviviality" effects of alcohol.[33][34] As of October 2019, none of these compounds were available to consumers, their long-term health impacts were not known and there has been no published research about them.
The science team at GABA Labs has produced a "Nootropic" which was released to the market in the form of the drink Brand "Sentia"[35] in January 2021 as a "botanical spirit" aimed at produced the relaxed and social effects normally associated with alcoholic drinks.[36]
Psychedelics
In collaboration with Amanda Feilding and the Beckley Foundation, David Nutt is working on the effects of psychedelics on cerebral blood flow.[38][39][40][41][42]
Government positions
Nutt worked as an advisor to the
He served on the
"Equasy"
With Nutt in the position of ACMD chairman, government ministers repeatedly clashed with him over issues of drug harm and classification. In January 2009 he published in the
The word equasy is a portmanteau of ecstasy and equestrianism (based on
In February 2009 he was criticised by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for stating in the paper that the drug ecstasy was statistically no more dangerous than an addiction to horse-riding.[47]
Equasy has been frequently referred to in later discussions of
The issue of the mismatch between lawmakers'
Dismissal
Following the release of this pamphlet, Nutt was dismissed from his ACMD position by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson. Explaining his dismissal of Nutt, Johnson wrote in a letter to The Guardian that "[Nutt] was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy. [...] As for his comments about horse riding being more dangerous than ecstasy, which you quote with such reverence, it is of course a political rather than a scientific point."[56] Responding in The Times, Professor Nutt said: "I gave a lecture on the assessment of drug harms and how these relate to the legislation controlling drugs. According to Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, some contents of this lecture meant I had crossed the line from science to policy and so he sacked me. I do not know which comments were beyond the line or, indeed, where the line was [...]".[57] He maintains that "the ACMD was supposed to give advice on policy".[58]
In the wake of Nutt's dismissal, Dr Les King, a part-time advisor to the Department of Health, and the senior chemist on the ACMD, resigned from the body.[59] His resignation was soon followed by that of Marion Walker, Clinical Director of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's substance misuse service, and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's representative on the ACMD.[60]
The Guardian revealed that Alan Johnson ordered what was described as a 'snap review' of the 40-strong ACMD in October 2009. This, it was said, would assess whether the body is "discharging the functions" that it was set up to deliver and decide if it still represented value for money for the public. The review was to be conducted by David Omand.[61] Within hours of that announcement, an article was published online by The Times arguing that Nutt's controversial lecture actually conformed to government guidelines throughout.[62] This issue was further publicised a week later when Liberal Democrat science spokesman Dr Evan Harris, MP, attacked the Home Secretary for apparently having misled Parliament and the country in his original statement about Nutt's dismissal.[63]
On 4 November, the BBC reported that Nutt had financial backing to create a new independent drug research body if the ACMD was disbanded or proved incapable of functioning.
In an 11 November 2009 editorial in The Lancet, Nutt explicitly attributed his dismissal to a conflict between government and science, and reiterated that "I have repeatedly stated [cannabis] is not safe, but that the idea that you can reduce use through raising the classification in the Misuse of Drugs Act from class C to class B—where it had previously been placed, but thus now increasing the maximum penalty for possession for personal use to 5 years in prison—is implausible."[68] In a rejoinder, William Cullerne Bown of Research Fortnight pointed out that the framing of science vs. government was misleading because the weighting of the factors in Nutt's 2007 Lancet paper was arbitrary, and consequently that there was no scientific answer to ranking drugs.[69] In reply, Nutt admitted the limitations of the original study, and wrote that ACMD was in the process of devising a multicriteria decision-making approach when he was dismissed. Nutt reiterated that "The repeated claims by Gordon Brown's government that it had scientific evidence that trumped that of the ACMD and the acknowledgment that it was only interested in scientific evidence that supported its political aims was a cynical misuse of scientific evidence that breached the principles of the 1971 Act and was insulting to Council." Nutt announced that he and number of colleagues that had resigned from the ACMD had set up an Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs.[18]
A subsequent review of policy drafted by
Honours
David Nutt is a
His book Drugs Without the Hot Air (UIT press) won the Salon London Transmission Prize in 2014.[75]
Personal life
David Nutt lives in Bristol, with his wife Dianne. He has four children.[76]
Nutt is a Patron of
Publications
Articles
- Carhart-Harris, RL; et al. (2016). "Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging". PNAS. 113 (17): 4853–4858. PMID 27071089.
- Nutt, David; Baldwin, David; Aitchison, Katherine (2013). "Benzodiazepines: Risks and benefits. A reconsideration" (PDF). J Psychopharmacol. 27 (11): 967–71. S2CID 8040368. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2 September 2015.
- Amsterdam, Jan; Nutt, David; Brink, Wim (2013). "Generic legislation of new psychoactive drugs" (PDF). J Psychopharmacol. 27 (3): 317–324. S2CID 12288500.
- Carhart-Harris, RL; Erritzoe, D; Williams, T; Stone, JM; Reed, LJ; Colasanti, A; Tyacke, RJ; Leech, R; Malizia, AL; Murphy, K; Hobden, P; Evans, J; Feilding, A; Wise, RG; Nutt, DJ (February 2012). "Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 109 (6): 2138–43. PMID 22308440.
- David J Nutt; Harrison PJ; Baldwin DS; Barnes TR; et al. (October 2011). "No psychiatry without psychopharmacology". Br J Psychiatry. 199 (4): 263–5. PMID 22187725.
- Nutt, DJ; Lingford-Hughes, A; Chick, J (2012). "Through a glass darkly: can we improve clarity about mechanism and aims of medications in drug and alcohol treatments?". Journal of Psychopharmacology. 26 (2): 199–204. PMID 22287478.
- Nutt J. D.J. (June 2011). "Highlights of the international consensus statement on major depressive disorder". J Clin Psychiatry. 72 (6): e21. PMID 21733474.
- Nutt DJ, King LA, Phillips LD; Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (November 2010). "Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis" (PDF). Lancet. 376 (9752): 1558–65. S2CID 5667719.
- Nutt D, King LA, Saulsbury W, Blakemore C (March 2007). "Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse" (PDF). Lancet. 369 (9566): 1047–53. S2CID 5903121.
- Nutt, D (2006). "Alcohol Alternatives: A Goal for Psychopharmacology?". Journal of Psychopharmacology. 20 (3): 318–320. S2CID 44290147.
Books
- David J. Nutt (2012). Drugs Without the Hot Air: Minimising the Harms of Legal and Illegal Drugs. Cambridge: UIT. ISBN 978-1-906860-16-5.
- David J. Nutt (2020). Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health. Yellow Kite. ISBN 978-1-529393-23-1.
- David J. Nutt (2021). Nutt Uncut. Waterside Press.
- David J. Nutt (2021). Brain and Mind Made Simple. Waterside Press.
- David J. Nutt (2022). Cannabis (seeing through the smoke): The New Science of Cannabis and Your Health. Yellow Kite.
- David J. Nutt (2023). Psychedelics: The revolutionary drugs that could change your life – a guide from the expert. Yellow Kite. ISBN 978-1-529360-53-0.
Medical and science
Pharmacotherapy
- David J. Nutt; Roni Shiloh; Stryjer Rafael; Abraham Weizman (2005). Essentials in Clinical Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy, Second Edition. London; New York: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-84184-092-0.
- David J. Nutt; Roni Shiloh; Rafael Stryjer; Abraham Weizman (2006). Atlas of Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy, Second Edition. New York: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-85317-630-3.
- David J. Nutt; Adam Doble; Ian L. Martin (2001). Calming the brain: benzodiazepines and related drugs from laboratory to clinic. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 978-1-84184-052-9.
- David J. Nutt; Mike Briley (2000). Anxiolytics. Basel etc.: Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7643-6032-0.
- David J. Nutt; Wallace B. Mendelson (1995). Hypnotics and Anxiolytics. London: Bailliere Tindall. ISBN 978-0-7020-1955-5.
Brain science
- David J. Nutt; Martin Sarter; Richard G. Lister (1995). Benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonists. New York: Wiley-Liss. ISBN 978-0-471-56173-6.
Addiction and associated disorder
- David J. Nutt; Trevor W. Robbins; Barry J. Everitt (2010). The neurobiology of addiction: new vistas. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-956215-2.
- David J. Nutt; Noeline Latt; Katherine Conigrave; Jane Marshall; John Saunders (2009). Addiction medicine. Oxford Psychiatry Library. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-953933-8.
- David J. Nutt; George F. Koob; Mustafa al'Absi (2008). Bundle for researchers in Stress and Addiction. Boston: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-374868-3.
- David J. Nutt; Trevor W. Robbins; Gerald V. Stimson; Martin Ince; Andrew Jackson (2006). Drugs and the future: brain science, addiction and society. Boston: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-370624-9.
Anxiety disorders
- David J. Nutt; James C. Ballenger (2003). Anxiety disorders. Oxford: Blackwell Science. ISBN 978-0-632-05938-6.
- David J. Nutt; Eric J.L. Griez; Carlo Faravelli; Joseph Zohar (2001). Anxiety disorders: an introduction to clinical management and research. New York: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-97873-2.
- David J. Nutt; Spilios Argyropoulos; Adrian Feeney (2002). Anxiety Disorders Comorbid with Depression: Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 978-1-84184-049-9.
- David J. Nutt; Karl Rickels; Dan J. Stein (2002). Generalised Anxiety Disorder: Symptomatology, Pathogenesis and Management. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 978-1-84184-131-1.
- David J. Nutt; Spilios Argyropoulos; Sam Forshall (2001). Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Diagnosis, Treatment and Its Relationship to Other Anxiety Disorders, 3rd edition. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 1-85317-659-1
- David J. Nutt; Spilios Argyropoulos; Sean Hood (2000). Clinician's manual on anxiety disorders and comorbid depression. London: Science Press. ISBN 978-1-85873-397-5.
Other disorders
- David J. Nutt; Sidney H. Kennedy; Raymond W. Lam; Michael E. Thase (2007). Treating Depression Effectively: Applying Clinical Guidelines, Second Edition. Informa Healthcare. ISBN 1-84184-328-8.
- David J. Nutt; Caroline Bell; John Potokar (1996). Depression. Anxiety and the Mixed Condition - pocketbook. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 978-1-85317-359-2.
- David J. Nutt; Eric J. L. Griez; Carlo Faravelli; Joseph Zohar (2005). Mood disorders: clinical management and research issues. London: J. Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-09426-6.
- David J. Nutt; Caroline Bell; Christine Masterson; Clare Short (2001). Mood and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: a psychopharmacological. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 978-1-85317-924-2.
- David J. Nutt; James C. Ballenger; Jean Pierre Lépine (1999). Panic Disorder: Clinical Diagnosis, Management and Mechanisms. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 978-1-85317-518-3.
- David J. Nutt; Murray B. Stein; Joseph Zohar (2009). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosis, Management And Treatment, Second Edition. London: Informa Healthcare. ISBN 1-85317-926-4.
Sleep and connected disorder
- David J. Nutt; Sue Wilson (2008). Sleep disorders. Oxford Psychiatry Library. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-923433-2.
- David J. Nutt; Jaime M. Monti; S. R. Pandi-Perumal; Barry L. Jacobs (2008). Serotonin and Sleep: Molecular, Functional and Clinical Aspects. Vol. 32. Basel: Birkhäuser. pp. 699–700. ) (PMC link is a 2-page book review)
References
- ^ "Drug Science founded". drugscience.org.uk.
- ^ "Johnson 'misled MPs over adviser'". BBC News. 8 November 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ Sample, Ian (11 April 2016). "LSD's impact on the brain revealed in groundbreaking images". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ S2CID 32034780.
- ^ "David Nutt". The Life Scientific. 18 September 2012. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ Science and Technology Select Committee (18 July 2006). Drug classification: making a hash of it? (PDF) (Report). House of Commons. p. Ev 1. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
- ^ a b "The Truth About Drugs". drugscience.org.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Professor David Nutt". University of Bristol. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ "Home - Professor David Nutt DM, FRCP, FRCPsych, FSB, FMedSci". www.imperial.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "David J Nutt". The Royal Institution. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- Microsoft Academic
- ^ http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/tls/tls_20120918-0930a.mp3 David Nutt on The Life Scientific with Jim Al-Khalili, September 2012, BBC Radio 4
- ^ a b c d Lucy Goodchild (8 January 2009). "Addiction, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease tackled by new Chair at Imperial College" (Press release). Imperial College, London.
- S2CID 779441.
- ^ "SAGE Journals: Your gateway to world-class research journals". SAGE Journals.
- ^ "David Nutt elected president of the European Brain Council | Imperial News | Imperial College London". Imperial News. 22 January 2014.
- ^ S2CID 5903121.
- ^ S2CID 54387485.
- ^ "SAGE Journals: Your gateway to world-class research journals". SAGE Journals. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "The Drug Science Podcast". drugscience.org.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "People". Imperial College London. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Research". Imperial College London. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ S2CID 5667719.
- ^ Tim Locke (1 November 2010) Alcohol more harmful than crack or heroin: Study. Former government drugs advisor Professor David Nutt produces new measures on the way drugs and alcohol cause harm Archived 10 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, WebMD Health News
- ^ "The best scientific advice on drugs (written by David Nutt)". The Guardian. London. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ^ a b Robin Murray, A clear danger from cannabis, The Guardian, 29 October 2009 replying to David Nutt The cannabis conundrum, The Guardian, 29 October 2009
- ^ "Medicinal cannabis: time for a comeback?". Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- PMID 24531723.
- S2CID 1956833.
- S2CID 205509004.
- ^ "Could 'alcosynth' provide all the joy of booze – without the dangers?". the Guardian. 26 March 2019.
- ^ Amy Fleming (26 March 2019). "Could 'alcosynth' provide all the joy of booze – without the dangers?". The Guardian.
- ^ Journal 6751, GB1813962.6, Applicant: Alcarelle Holdings Limited Title: Mood enhancing compounds. Date Lodged: 28 August 2018
- ^ Journal 6751, GB1813962.9, Applicant: Alcarelle Holdings Limited Title: Mood enhancing compounds. Date Lodged: 28 August 2018
- ^ "Sentia". world.openfoodfacts.org. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ Schuster-Bruce, Catherine. "I tried an alcohol-free, no-hangover drink made by a top professor that claims to make you as relaxed as alcohol does. It hits the spot — but make sure you read the label". Business Insider. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- PMID 25401177.
- ^ Carhart-Harris R, Kaelen M, Nutt DJ [2014] How do hallucinogens work on the brain? http://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-27/edition-9/how-do-hallucinogens-work-brain Archived 5 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nutt DJ [2014] A brave new world for psychology? The Psychologist Special issue: http://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-27/edition-9/special-issue-brave-new-world-psychology
- PMID 25401177.
- ^ Muthukumaraswamy S, Carhart-Harris R, Moran R, Brookes M, Williams M, Erritzoe D, Sessa B, Papadopoulos A, Bolstridge M, Singh K, Fielding A, Friston K, Nutt DJ (2013) Broadband cortical desynchronisation underlies the human psychedelic state The Journal of Neuroscience, 18 September 2013 • 33(38):15171–15183
- ^ Hobden P, Evans J, Feilding A, Wise RG, Nutt DJ (2012) Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin PNAS 1-6 10.1073/pnas.1119598109
- ^ Sarah Boseley (17 March 2003). "Drugs inquiry thrown into doubt over members' links with manufacturers". The Guardian. London.
- ^ a b Dominic Casciani (30 October 2009). "Profile: Professor David Nutt". BBC.
- ^ Hope, Christopher (9 February 2009). "Home Office's drugs adviser apologises for saying ecstasy is no more dangerous than riding a horse". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009.
- ^ "House of Commons: Oral Evidence Taken Before the Home Affairs Committee - Drugs: Breaking the Cycle - Minutes of Evidence (HC 184-II)". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ^ Christopher Hope (9 February 2009). "Home Office's drugs adviser apologises for saying ecstasy is no more dangerous than riding a horse". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009.
- ^ Chu, Ben (8 November 2015). "Why does someone dying from alcohol poisoning get no media coverage, while an ecstasy-related death does?". The Independent (opinion).
- ^ Ellenberg, J. (2014). "Book Review: 'The Norm Chronicles' by Michael Blastland and David Spiegelhalter". The Wall Street Journal.
- ISBN 978-3-642-36370-2.
- ]
- ISBN 9788771596243.
- ^ "David Nutt's pamphlet 'Estimating drug harms: a risky business?'" (PDF). Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Jones, Sam; Robert Booth (1 November 2009). "David Nutt's sacking provokes mass revolt against Alan Johnson". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ Vuillamy, Ed (24 July 2011). "Richard Nixon's 'war on drugs' began 40 years ago, and the battle is still raging". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ^ Johnson, Alan (2 November 2009). "Why Professor David Nutt was shown the door". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ Nutt, David (2 November 2009). "Penalties for drug use must reflect harm". The Times. London. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ Nutt, David: Drugs - without the hot air. UIT Cambridge, 2012. page 4
- ^ "Government drugs adviser resigns". BBC News. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ "Second drugs adviser quits post". BBC News. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ Travis, Alan; Deborah Summers (2 November 2009). "Alan Johnson orders swift review of drugs advice body". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ Henderson, Mark (2 November 2009). "David Nutt's controversial lecture conformed to government guidelines". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ "Johnson 'misled MPs over adviser'". BBC News. 8 November 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ Ghosh, Pallab (3 November 2009). "Science chief backs cannabis view". BBC News. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ "Minister 'backs adviser autonomy'". BBC News. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Nutt vows to set up new drug body". BBC News. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Three more drugs advisers resign". BBC News. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- S2CID 31723334.
- S2CID 205957921.
- ^ "Scientific advice to government: principles". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Nick Dusic (24 March 2010) Principles of Scientific Advice, Campaign for Science and Engineering
- ^ "Focus on cannabis 'past history'". BBC News. 29 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- YouTube
- ^ "List of Officers". European Brain Council. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ^ "List of Transmission Prize winners". Foyles. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- OCLC 1249695577.
- ^ "About Us". mydeath-decision.org. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
External links
- University profile
- David Nutt on Twitter
- David Nutt's blog (previous blog)
- Profile on David Nutt in Science. The dangerous professor. Science, 31 January 2014, 343, 478–81.[1]
- PMID 24482461.