The Drug Science Podcast

How did Neil infiltrate Britain's most dangerous drug gangs? Having fought the war on drugs on the front line, what lessens did he learn? & how do we move forward?

Show Notes

Neil Woods is a former Undercover Drugs Detective Sergeant whose brief was to infiltrate Britain's most dangerous drug gangs, befriending the foot soldiers before taking on their gangster bosses. Neil risked his life to infiltrate some of the UK's most vicious gangs, by doing so he came to realise the terrifying reality of the drug war in Britain.

During this time, what Neil discovered is that (like most wars) the war on drugs was futile at best and corrupt at worst. He’s now a board member of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) in the USA and the U.K. LEAP is a U.N. accredited NGO campaigning for an end to the war on drugs. He’s written two books, a memoir Good Cop Bad War, and Drug Wars, with JS Rafaeli.

Gabor Maté’s book on addiction and trauma - https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/

Burger bar boys - https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-burger-bar-boys-gang-11796968

Chief Constable Mike Barton - https://www.durham.police.uk/news-and-events/Pages/News%20Articles/Chief-Constable-Mike-Barton-announces-retirement-.aspx

Ron Hogg - https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/a-man-people-tributes-ron-17526538

HAT/Heroin Assisted Treatment - http://www.sdf.org.uk/heroin-assisted-treatment-provided-glasgow/

Police and Crime commissioner David Jameson - https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/your-commissioner/police-and-crime-commissioner/

Drug Consumption Room - https://www.avert.org/news/world%E2%80%99s-largest-drug-consumption-facility-opens-denmark

Good cop bad war - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1110612/good-cop--bad-war/9781785032707

Drug Wars - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1114855/drug-wars/9781785037467

LEAP UK - http://ukleap.org/

LEAP - https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/

The Stop and Search podcast - https://play.acast.com/s/stopandsearch

LEAP UK - @UKLEAP

LEAP US - @policeforreform 

Neil Woods - @wudzee0

Become a Drug Science Community Member: https://www.donate.drugscience.org.uk/

Twitter: @ProfDavidNutt @Drug_Science

A Fascinate Productions podcast for Drug Science

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What is The Drug Science Podcast?

Professor David Nutt has spent a career making the argument for a rational, evidence-based approach to drug policy and drug use. The scientific evidence still challenges perceived wisdom on drugs and for that reason can appear to be contentious. In this podcast, the Professor explores the actual harms and potential benefits of various drugs, challenging myths surrounding classification and legislation, and exploring the societal impact of poorly informed drug policy. Using evidence in public policy should not be controversial. A podcast for anyone interested in understanding the scientific truth about drugs, free from political or moral concern.