Andrew Smith

Cardiff University

2 papers in the library · 7 citations · publishing 2018-2019

Papers

Pharmacies as potential providers of harm reduction services: A preliminary online survey

Drug Science Policy and Law January 1, 2018 Edward James, Thomas L Robertshaw, Andrew D. Westwell et al. 4 citations

A survey of 105 UK nationals found that participants viewed pharmacists, supported by general practitioners and mental health workers, as the most suitable vendors for cannabis, MDMA, and psilocybin, compared to regulated shops or the black market. Support for selling cannabis in pharmacies for therapeutic and harm reduction purposes averaged 7.0 out of 10. Participants with a university education were more in favor of pharmacy sales for alcohol (5.6), tobacco (6.7), cannabis (7.6), MDMA (6.5), and psilocybin (6.5) than those without a university qualification (alcohol 5.0, tobacco 4.8, cannabis 6.3, MDMA 5.0, psilocybin 5.1). The findings suggest that university-educated participants support treating recreational drug use as a health issue.

DOI: 10.1177/2050324518767441 Cannabis Psilocybin MDMA Harm reduction +7

Using the pharmacy retail model to examine perceptions and biases of a UK population sample towards regulation of specific psychoactive drugs

Drug Science Policy and Law January 1, 2019 Edward James, Thomas L Robertshaw, Michael Pascoe et al. 3 citations

A survey of 105 UK nationals found that perceptions of relative harm for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, MDMA, and psilocybin did not match the harm rankings reported in scientific literature. Participants ranked tobacco as most harmful, followed by MDMA, psilocybin, alcohol, and cannabis, whereas the literature ranks alcohol as most harmful, then tobacco, cannabis, MDMA, and psilocybin. Objections to legal pharmacy sales included concerns about sending the wrong message, danger, and disapproval of psychoactive drug use for entertainment or mystical experiences. Most male participants considered legal access to alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and psilocybin a human right, while most female participants considered only alcohol a human right. Misperceptions and biases likely sustain policies misaligned with research.

DOI: 10.1177/2050324519876123 Psilocybin Cannabis MDMA Pharmacy +5