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A single dose of magic mushrooms could help cocaine addicts break the cycle, new research has suggested.
Global cocaine use hit record highs in 2023, with more people turning to the illicit drug during the pandemic than ever.
In the UK it is one of the most widely used illegal drugs – second only to cannabis.
Currently there are no approved medications for cocaine addiction or other stimulant use disorders. The only resource available to users is cognitive behavioural therapy, a type of psychotherapy.
Hallucinogens such as psilocybin – the active ingredient in magic mushrooms – have shown promise in treating a number of mental health conditions, including alcohol use disorder and smoking.
And now it’s offering hope to people who are dependent on cocaine.
The new study – published in JAMA Network Open – followed 40 US cocaine users for around six months and found that psilocybin could be an effective treatment.
Participants were randomly assigned either a single dose of psilocybin – a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms – or a placebo antihistamine. Both groups were supported by a licensed therapist.
A single dose of psilocybin could help cocaine users kick their addiction, new research shows
Results showed that those who received a single dose of psilocybin were more likely to abstain from cocaine than those who were given a placebo.
To be included, participants had to be over the age of 25, used cocaine on at least four days in the past month and have a desire to quit.
Those with other mood disorders being treated with antidepressants, high blood pressure or a history of bipolar disorder were also excluded.
After initial prescreening, participants then completed up to five psychotherapy sessions and seven days of no cocaine before the study period commenced.
After the all–day drug session, where participants were given either psilocybin or an antihistamine in capsule form, they underwent five more therapy sessions.
Follow–up assessments were carried out 90 days and 180 days after the final therapy session.
Results showed those treated with psilocybin alongside psychotherapy were far less likely to relapse and had a greater percentage of cocaine–free days.
Study lead author, Dr Peter Hendricks, from the University of Alabama, said the findings are especially pertinent given the number of Americans now dying from overdoses involving stimulants.
Cocaine deaths are on the rise globally, with addicts finding it extremely difficult to challenge impulsive behaviours.
Rather than working on the same receptors as cocaine, psilocybin works to alter a user’s state of consciousness, typically in one therapy session.
The idea is that this altered state can help facilitate shifts in perspective that help users change their behaviour.
‘These findings are a potentially important advancement in the treatment of cocaine use disorder, a condition for which there are no approved pharmacotherapies and limited psychosocial interventions,’ Dr Hendricks said.
The representation of vulnerable populations in previous trials has been an ongoing concern – with data suggesting that cocaine use is the single strongest predictor of criminal conviction and re–offending rates.
This is particularly true of low–income black men, according to US datasets, who made up the majority of the current study. White people, meanwhile, are more likely to report lifetime addiction.
Experts commenting on the findings agree that the results ‘are a long time coming, arriving at a critical juncture of the overdose epidemics fourth wave, and a national mental health crisis.’
However, Professor Erin Bonar, a licensed clinical psychologist, said that any emerging treatments need to be effective for both substance use disorder and depression – a common symptom of cocaine withdrawal – which the current study could not prove.
She added that ‘careful balance’ is required when considering psilocybin as a potential treatment for cocaine addiction to avoid a rise in psychedelic use and associated adverse events among a vulnerable population seeking relief.
Cocaine is one of the most widely used illegal drugs in the UK – second only to cannabis.
Despite its growing reputation as a ‘middle class’ party drug, it is used across every demographic, income level and social group.
And it’s one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death. Combining the drug with alcohol increases the risk by as much as 25 times, studies show.
The committee’s letter to Ofcom, meanwhile, asks about the regulator’s role in the complaints process, its powers to investigate potential breaches of the broadcasting code, and the timeline for launching its own investigation into the Married at First Sight allegations.
Need to know
The UK Government was obliged to respond
Need to know: petition to raise personal tax allowance gains momentum
- A petition calling for the personal tax allowance to be raised to £18,000 has surpassed 30,000 signatures.
- The petition, created by Mike Haynes, argues that the current £12,570 threshold has been frozen since 2021 and will remain so until 2031. It highlights concerns about “fiscal drag” pulling minimum wage earners and pensioners into the tax bracket as wages rise but thresholds remain static.
- The petition states: “We want to keep some more of our own money. If you are earning minimum wage then you may soon be paying tax because of fiscal drag.”
- The issue particularly affects pensioners, as the New State Pension pays £12,547.60 per year, meaning any additional income from private pensions is likely to attract tax.
- HM Treasury rejected the proposal, stating it would cost over £40 billion annually. The government said this would be “equivalent to slashing roughly a fifth of the NHS Budget in England, or around two-thirds of defence spending.”
- The Treasury, which was obliged to respond when the petition passed 10,000 signatures, emphasised its commitment to keeping taxes low while maintaining public services. It highlighted alternative support measures including childcare provision and cost of living relief through frozen rail fares and energy bill cuts.
- The petition remains live on the Parliamentary website until September and could face parliamentary debate if it reaches 100,000 signatures.
- READ THE FULL STORY: £18,000 personal tax allowance update as milestone passed after UK Government response
Did you know you can make significant savings on medication? (stock) (Image: Getty)
Next time you require medication such as cold and flu tablets, sinus and headache relief, – you may want to think twice before “overpaying”.
That’s the advice of Claire, who shares financial advice for Brits via her social media accounts. Sharing footage from inside a Boots pharmacy, she pointed out that leading brand, Sudafed’s Congestion & Headache Relief capsules retail for £5.99.
However, a money-saving trick lies within its packaging. Claire advised: “If you look at the bottom of the box, it has a PL code [in this case PL 12063/0073], which is basically the medicine’s ID [product licence].”
She then picked out a product from Boots’ own range – Max Strength Cold & Flu Relief capsules, which are priced at £2.40 – less than half of the cost of the Sudafed equivalent.
Examining the box, Claire continued: “It has the exact same PL code, which means they are the exact same.”
She wasn’t done there – as she went on to point out that even greater savings can be made elsewhere.
Claire added: “I found them in Savers for just £1.19 for 16 capsules, which is five times cheaper than Sudafed versions – and it’s the exact same medicine, just in different packaging.”
Wrapping up the video, Claire closed: “Don’t fall for fancy branding and make sure you always check the PL code and you can save yourself a lot of money.”
Money Saving Expert backs up this advice online, explaining how to spot which tablets are near-identical.
“Check the PL number on the packet,” Martin Lewis’ organisation advises. “It’s a unique licence number given to a particular drug made by a particular manufacturer (such as PL 12063/0104, which is a cold and flu remedy). The medicine can be generic or branded, and it can even be marketed at different ailments, but if the PL numbers match, it’s the same drug.”
What if the ingredients are identical, but the PL number is different? Money Saving Expert adds: “Confusingly, medicines with the same formulation, from the same brand, can have different PL numbers. This is because companies sometimes license the same formulation under multiple product names.
“Even if there’s not an identical medicine that’s cheaper, don’t sniffle at generic equivalents. It’s a medicine’s ‘active’ ingredient that matters – the rest is largely irrelevant (unless you’ve certain allergies or avoid gelatine), though liquid capsules work quicker and some taste different.”
People were grateful for Claire’s advice and took to the TikTok comments section to leave their thoughts.
One wrote: “A pharmacist I use always sells me the generic product, she’s saved me a lot of money!” A second said: “This is good to know.” And a third wrote: “Thank you, I will use this.”
If you have any questions or concerns about medication, always ask a pharmacist or other relevant medical professional.
Despite a nationally coordinated push, climate superfund bills introduced in state legislatures across the nation have failed to cross the finish line. [some emphasis, links added]
Of the 12 states where bills were introduced or carried over from 2025—California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia—eight have failed, and three, in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, have failed to pick up much momentum.
Only Maine passed anything – and lawmakers there watered the bill down to a mere study, unwilling to risk the legal exposure that payment demands would invite.
From Courtrooms to Statehouses, and Striking Out at Both
Climate superfund legislation was designed as the next front in the broader, activist-driven campaign – a pivot to state legislatures after years of courtroom failures. The theory was simple: if judges won’t impose liability on energy companies, find lawmakers who will.
It hasn’t worked.
Despite the full weight of a well-funded, nationally coordinated effort – including the direct involvement of the Rockefeller Family Fund and its Executive Director Lee Wasserman – lawmakers in state after state found the bills too legally shaky and economically damaging to advance.
New York and Vermont remain the only two states with climate superfund laws on the books, and both are currently tied up in litigation.
Early and Decisive Defeats
Virginia was the first to fall.
In early February, the state’s Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee voted down the “Extreme Weather Relief Act” (SB 420) in an 8-6 vote, with two Democrats, including the committee chairman, joining all six Republicans in opposition.
Critics zeroed in on the retroactive liability the bill would impose on U.S. companies for decades of lawful production.
Sen. William M. Stanley (R) said:
“In fact, what it is, it’s completely anti-business and it chases people for things in the past, not try to regulate behavior in the future. … And so what it seems to me here is that we’re retroactively changing legal consequences like ex post facto, which is fundamentally not what this country, nor this commonwealth, nor the people that put both together wanted for us as a society.”
After Virginia, several defeats came in quick succession. Oregon’s bill failed despite being sponsored by State Sen. Jeff Golden (D), chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee.
The state’s business community successfully pushed back against the proposed legislation.
Notably, Oregon Business and Industry Association Senior Policy Director Sharla Moffett emphasized:
“This uncertainty is likely to discourage investment in Oregon, which is already a major challenge.”
Illinois saw a similar outcome.
The superfund bill there collapsed after facing significant pushback from labor and trade groups, including the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Manufacturers Association, Technology and Manufacturing Association, and Illinois Pipe Trades Association, despite the Democratic State House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel’s sponsorship.
No Luck in New England
Connecticut’s bill died without a final vote when time ran out on the 2026 legislative session.
Industry groups, including the Consumer Energy Alliance, the Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association, and the New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association (NECSEMA), had raised sustained objections throughout the session.
NECSEMA Executive Director Peter Brennan warned of the bill’s wide-reaching impacts on the state’s residents and economy:
“The tax that these bills seek to levy on energy producers, through a convoluted and arbitrary calculation, will ultimately be paid by every business and person that participates in the sale or use of petroleum products. These costs will inevitably be passed along to consumers in the form of higher energy prices, transportation costs, and goods inflation.”
In Maine, lawmakers stripped their bill down to a study after concluding that actual payment-demand legislation couldn’t survive a legal challenge.
State Rep. Michael Soboleski (R) warned of the potential legal battles and criticized the decision to advance a study:
“This amendment is not a compromise. It is not a reset. It is a strategic deferral of the consequences. It delays action while still steering the future. It avoids responsibility while shaping the next administration’s agenda.”
Bottom Line
Years of activist investment, friendly media coverage, and coordination by deep-pocketed organizations produced essentially nothing.
Climate superfund bills failed or are stalling in a dozen states, battered by affordability concerns, bipartisan skepticism, and serious legal doubts. The legislative route is looking as uncertain as the courtroom one.
Read more at EID Climate
The Abstract Expressionist’s Number 7A, 1948 painting is now his most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.
Just one in three Britons realise they can reduce their risk of developing dementia despite most worrying about getting it, a poll reveals.
Six in ten adults (59 per cent) say they stress about a diagnosis, with four in ten (43 per cent) regularly looking for symptoms.
It means one in five (20 per cent) even get alarmed when they simply forget something, such as their keys or a person’s name.
Concern about the disease is likely to have increased in recent years as more than half (56 per cent) say the Covid-19 pandemic made them more health-aware.
Meanwhile, 50 per cent of us now know someone who has dementia or is looking after someone who does, the survey of 2,000 UK adults by OnePoll suggests.
The Daily Mail and Alzheimer’s Society have partnered in a drive to beat dementia, which claims 76,000 lives each year and is the UK’s biggest killer.
The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.
The survey highlights the need for such a campaign, as only one in nine respondents (11 per cent) correctly identified dementia as the UK’s leading cause of death, with four in ten (41 per cent) wrongly thinking it was cancer.
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said the findings ‘underscore the need for greater public education about dementia and the practical steps people can take to reduce their risk’
Dementia cases are projected to exceed one million by 2030, with one in three people born today expected to develop it in their lifetime.
Research shows around half (45 per cent) of all dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 risk factors – but only a third of people (32 per cent) believe this is possible.
While many recognise risk factors such as having a traumatic brain injury (64 per cent), excessive alcohol consumption (50 per cent), social isolation (50 per cent), smoking (45 per cent), physical inactivity (45 per cent) and depression (42 per cent), fewer could identify the others.
These include poor quality of education in early life (13 per cent), uncorrected vision loss (20 per cent), hearing loss (25 per cent), air pollution (25 per cent), high cholesterol (29 per cent), diabetes (31 per cent), obesity (31 per cent) and high blood pressure (37 per cent).
Dementia misconceptions also persist, with respondents wrongly linking dementia to lack of sleep (45 per cent), chemical exposure (41 per cent), vitamin deficiencies (37 per cent), dehydration (28 per cent), aluminium (22 per cent) and poor dental hygiene (20 per cent).
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said the findings ‘underscore the need for greater public education about dementia and the practical steps people can take to reduce their risk’.
She added: ‘Research suggests that nearly half of dementia cases could be delayed or prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors – a reminder that everyday choices genuinely matter.
‘Regular exercise, avoiding smoking, tackling hearing loss and managing long term conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes all play a meaningful role.
The Daily Mail and Alzheimer’s Society have partnered in a drive to beat dementia, which claims 76,000 lives each year and is the UK’s biggest killer
‘Taking a holistic approach to overall health remains one of the most effective ways we currently know to support brain health as we age.’
Half of those polled (50 per cent) say they would want to know in advance if they were going to develop dementia in later life.
This is mainly to spend more time with their loved ones (47 per cent), plan care and finances (both 45 per cent), improve their health (40 per cent), document memories (39 per cent) and travel more (38 per cent).
The survey also highlights a concerning gap in financial planning.
Most respondents estimate dementia care costs at around £20,000 per year (11 per cent), while 39 per cent admit they do not know.
In reality, care costs for severe cases of dementia can average at £81,000 per year – £60,000 more than most estimates – with even mild cases averaging £29,000.
Nearly half of those surveyed (49 per cent) admitted they have no financial plan in place to meet future care expenses.
A quarter (25 per cent) said they would depend on income, savings, and pensions to cover costs while one in ten (11 per cent) would have to sell their home.
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
Only 7 per cent said they are relying on an insurance payout and just 10 per cent have a critical illness insurance policy.
Peter Hamilton, head of market engagement at Zurich UK, which commissioned the polling, said: ‘Too many people still believe dementia is an inevitable part of aging, which it isn’t.
‘By improving understanding and encouraging earlier action both in terms of looking after health and finances, people can feel more in control of their future.’
In a new documentary, the star says she “got through it, again” following successful treatment in 2005.
Let’s talk about something many women, particularly from their late 30s onwards, notice in the bathroom mirror – but rarely bring up in polite conversation: those stubborn, wiry chin hairs that seem to appear overnight.
It can feel mildly horrifying the first time you spot one. One day your chin is smooth, the next you’ve discovered something that looks like it belongs on an older male relative rather than your own face.
But before you panic, this is extremely common and, in most cases, completely normal – tweezing the occasional rogue hair is also absolutely fine.
However, sometimes more significant hair growth can be a sign of an underlying hormonal condition that may need medical attention.
More noticeable or coarse hair growth in women is sometimes referred to as hirsutism. Technically speaking, this means excessive coarse, dark hair growth in areas where men more commonly grow hair, such as the face, chest, abdomen, back or thighs.
So what actually prompts this hair growth?
Hormones are usually the main driver, particularly androgens, or ‘male’ hormones, including testosterone. Women naturally produce testosterone too, just in much smaller amounts than men. Even these lower levels can influence hair growth.
Hirsutism can affect women at almost any age, but the causes often differ depending on life stage.
Dr Raj Arora says more noticeable hair growth in women may suggest an underlying hormonal condition, such as hirsutism – excessive coarse growth in areas where men tend to get hair
In younger women, especially those in their teens and twenties, excessive facial hair can sometimes be linked to conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which may also cause irregular periods, acne, weight gain and fertility issues.
That said, most women with the occasional rogue hair do not have a medical condition. They simply have hair follicles responding to perfectly ordinary hormones.
Hormonal shifts often begin subtly from the late 30s onwards and become more noticeable through the 40s and 50s – particularly around menopause.
In older women, particularly after menopause, as oestrogen levels decline, testosterone has more influence.
This hormonal shift can lead to thinning hair on the scalp while encouraging coarser hairs to appear on the chin or upper lip instead. It’s one of the more irritating quirks of ageing.
Hair follicles themselves also become more sensitive with age, which is why fine, pale hairs can suddenly transform into darker, thicker ones seemingly overnight.
And yes, eyebrows can join in too.
Many women notice random extra long eyebrow hairs appearing with age because the hair growth cycle changes over time, allowing some hairs to grow for longer before shedding.
So why does the chin seem to be such a focal point for these hairs?
This is partly because the chin and jawline contain hair follicles that are particularly sensitive to androgens.
At the same time, scalp hair follicles become less responsive to growth signals as oestrogen drops.
The result is the frustrating hormonal geography shift many women notice: less hair where you want it, more where you don’t.
Genetics also plays a starring role. If your mum or grandmother had a discreet relationship with a pair of tweezers, chances are you might too.
Weight changes are another factor: significant weight gain can increase insulin resistance, a condition where the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin. This causes higher levels of glucose to remain in the bloodstream and can disrupt hormone balance, sometimes increasing androgen levels, particularly in women with PCOS.
Hormonal shifts – especially ‘male’ hormones, such as testosterone – tend to be the main driver. The chin and jawline contain hair follicles that are especially sensitive to these
Facial hair is one of the most commonly discussed topics for GPs, says Dr Arora. Contrary to popular opinion, shaving does not make hair grow back thicker – neither does plucking
Rapid or excessive weight loss, meanwhile, can temporarily disrupt hormone balance and hair cycles too.
Certain medications may contribute as well, such as some steroid medications, testosterone-containing therapies, certain epilepsy medications, and occasionally drugs used for endometriosis or hormonal conditions.
The key question many women have is, should they be worried?
In most cases, the answer is no: the odd wiry chin hair as you get older is perfectly normal, we just rarely talk about it openly.
However, if the hair growth is sudden, rapidly worsening, involves multiple areas of the body, or comes alongside symptoms such as irregular periods, severe acne, scalp hair loss or voice deepening, it’s sensible to see your GP.
Doctors may occasionally want to rule out conditions such as PCOS, thyroid problems, adrenal gland disorders or, very rarely, hormone-producing tumours.
Blood tests are sometimes used to check hormone levels if symptoms suggest something beyond normal ageing.
What often gets overlooked is the emotional side of excess facial hair in women.
These hairs have a remarkable ability to dent confidence out of all proportion to their size.
Many women feel embarrassed, as though they’re dealing with something unusual or shameful.
In reality, it is one of the most routine things discussed in general practice. You would be far from the first, and certainly not the last.
When it comes to dealing with them, there is no shortage of options.
Tweezing remains the go-to for many women and works best for just a few isolated hairs.
Contrary to myth, plucking does not make hairs grow back thicker. Repeated tweezing over many years can sometimes weaken the follicle enough for hairs to become finer or stop growing altogether, though this is unpredictable.
Waxing and hair removal creams can work well for larger areas, although sensitive skin may become irritated.
And contrary to popular opinion, shaving does not make hair grow back thicker or darker. It simply cuts the hair bluntly, which can make regrowth feel stubbly.
Bleaching is another option, particularly for finer facial hair.
For women wanting a longer term solution, laser hair reduction can significantly reduce growth over time, particularly for dark hairs on lighter skin.
In the UK this is usually done privately, with sessions often costing anywhere from £50 to £300 depending on the area treated. Multiple sessions are normally required.
Electrolysis, meanwhile, involves inserting a tiny needle into each individual hair follicle and using an electrical current to destroy it.
Unlike laser, it can permanently treat individual hairs of all colours, but it is time consuming and can be more uncomfortable. Costs vary widely but are often around £15 to £100 per session.
In some cases, medical treatment may help, particularly if the hair growth is more extensive or linked to conditions such as PCOS.
Hormonal treatments including the Pill or anti-androgen medications such as spironolactone, sometimes described as testosterone blockers, can reduce hair growth – results are gradual and usually take several months.
There are also newer treatments emerging, including improved laser technologies and topical prescription creams that slow hair growth.
One older treatment that is sometimes overlooked is simple lifestyle management in PCOS, where weight reduction and improving insulin sensitivity can significantly help hormone balance and symptoms.
It’s also worth clearing up one final misconception.
Chin hair does not mean your body is ‘out of control’ as many women think, a fear amplified by social media’s obsession with appearing perfectly hairless at all times.
In reality, it usually means your hormones are doing exactly what hormones do: changing over time and occasionally behaving in mildly inconvenient ways.
Dr Arora is an NHS GP based in Surrey. Instagram: @dr_rajarora; TikTok: @drrajarora
