The Tox Lab episodes

May 4, 2026 | 00:24:49 Episode 76: Naloxone – Access, Harm Reduction and Disparities This week on The Tox Lab, we are taking a look at the role of naloxone in risk taking behaviours, harm reduction and disparities surrounding naloxone access. We… Read episode notes

Apr 27, 2026 | 00:26:29 Episode 75: Kratom Is Changing – New Semi-Synthetic Compounds & Rising Harm A year after we first took a look at mitragynine (kratom), we are back with an update episode looking at how the landscape surrounding mitragynine is evolving.We begin… Read episode notes

Apr 20, 2026 | 00:18:04 Episode 74: Codeine – Pharmacogenetics, Breastfeeding and the 2006 Lancet Case This week on The Tox Lab, we’re examining the controversial 2006 Lancet paper on codeine and fatal opioid toxicity in a breastfed infant.We begin by introducing the paper… Read episode notes Transcript

Apr 13, 2026 | 00:29:53 Episode 73: Pesticides – Flowers, Food and Forensics This week on The Tox Lab, we’re examining pesticides and their role in toxicology.We begin by discussing a study investigating pesticide exposure in florists, highlighting occupational risks and… Read episode notes

Apr 6, 2026 | 00:23:34 Episode 72: GHB – Forensic Toxicology, Detection and Interpretation (Part 2) This week on The Tox Lab, we continue our discussion on GHB, focusing on its role in forensic toxicology.We begin by examining a study investigating GHB in drug‑facilitated… Read episode notes

Mar 30, 2026 | 00:22:18 Episode 71: GHB – Patterns of Use, Harms and User Experience (Part 1) This week on The Tox Lab, we’re examining GHB, its use, and the harms associated with it.We begin by exploring what GHB is and how it works, before… Read episode notes

Mar 23, 2026 | 00:26:11 Episode 70: Poison Centre Data – Insights into Drug Trends and Toxicology Surveillance This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at poison centre data and how it can be used to identify drug trends and support toxicovigilance… Read episode notes

Mar 16, 2026 | 00:20:21 Episode 69: Alcohol – Fatal Complications of Chronic Misuse This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at one of the world’s oldest drugs, alcohol, and some of the fatal complications associated with chronic… Read episode notes

Mar 9, 2026 | 00:22:50 Episode 68: Dopamine Agonists – Impulse Control Disorders and Gambling in Parkinson’s Therapy This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring dopamine agonists and their role in the development of impulse-related conditions such as gambling disorder, hypersexuality, and hobbyism.We cover a… Read episode notes

Mar 2, 2026 | 00:20:38 Episode 67: Tetrodotoxin Toxicity – From Pufferfish to Forensic Casework This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing tetrodotoxin, the potent neurotoxin most commonly associated with pufferfish.We cover a clinical case of tetrodotoxin poisoning following ingestion of pufferfish… Read episode notes

Feb 23, 2026 | 00:24:40 Episode 66: CBD and Sleep – Clinical Evidence and Emerging Mechanisms This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at CBD and its effects on sleep.CBD is widely marketed for insomnia and sleep disturbance, but what… Read episode notes

Feb 16, 2026 | 00:20:44 Episode 65: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Psychoactive Drug Interactions This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at monoamine oxidase inhibitors and their interactions with other substances.We begin by revisiting how MAOIs work and… Read episode notes

Feb 9, 2026 | 00:19:51 Episode 64: Are Nitazenes Being Missed? Stability in Post-Mortem Toxicology This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring the stability of nitazenes in post-mortem samples and what this means for toxicological interpretation.We discuss a recent study we have… Read episode notes

Feb 2, 2026 | 00:23:39 Episode 63: Bupropion Toxicity – Mechanisms of Cardiac Conduction Abnormalities This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at bupropion and its distinctive toxicity profile in overdose.We explore a case of bupropion overdose to examine… Read episode notes

Jan 26, 2026 | 00:20:20 Episode 62: Methaqualone (Quaaludes) – From 1970s Sedative to Modern Analogues This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at quaaludes and their modern analogues.Once synonymous with a particular era of drug use, quaaludes have largely… Read episode notes

Jan 19, 2026 | 00:24:55 Episode 61: Naloxone in the Age of Nitazenes and Ultra-Potent Synthetic Opioids This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring naloxone and its effectiveness in the context of novel synthetic opioid overdoses.Naloxone remains a cornerstone of opioid overdose management, but… Read episode notes

Jan 12, 2026 | 00:29:51 Episode 60: Detecting Harm Early – Drug Early Warning Systems Explained This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring early warning systems and their growing role in toxicology and public health.We break down the core principles that underpin early… Read episode notes

Jan 5, 2026 | 00:20:38 Episode 59: When Is Toxicology Biochemistry? Exploring Drugs That Alter Glucose Metabolism Welcome back to The Tox Lab! We are kicking off 2026 by exploring drugs that disrupt metabolism and the consequences that can follow.In this episode, we focus on… Read episode notes

Dec 15, 2025 | 00:25:54 Episode 58: Marzipan, Almonds and Cyanide — A Toxicology Christmas Special This week on The Tox Lab, we’re closing out the year with a festive twist as we explore the link between marzipan, bitter almonds, and cyanide.We take a… Read episode notes

Dec 8, 2025 | 00:19:42 Episode 57: SSRIs and Seizure Risk – Rethinking Serotonin in Epilepsy This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at serotonin and its intriguing role in both depression and epilepsy.We review recent data examining the seizure… Read episode notes

Dec 1, 2025 | 00:26:29 Episode 56: Cannabis and Heart Health — Unpacking the Evidence Behind Cardiovascular Risk This week on The Tox Lab, we are examining the growing evidence around cannabis and cardiovascular risk.We start with a recent systematic review and meta-analysis that explores whether… Read episode notes

Nov 24, 2025 | 00:19:35 Episode 55: Space Oil – Etomidate in the Drug Supply and Its Toxicological Risks This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into the emerging world of “space oil”, the anesthetic drug etomidate, which has begun appearing in the recreational drug supply… Read episode notes

Nov 17, 2025 | 00:20:08 Episode 54: From Nits to Novichok — A Deep Dive into Organophosphates This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at organophosphates, a diverse group of compounds used everywhere from agriculture to chemical warfare.We walk through two… Read episode notes

Nov 10, 2025 | 00:23:24 Episode 53: From Cosmetics to Creatures – A Mix of Unusual Poisonings This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring a series of fascinating and unusual poisoning cases, each with its own toxic twist.From hair straightening treatments and bearded fireworms… Read episode notes

Nov 3, 2025 | 00:26:51 Episode 52: Errors in Toxicology – When Science Gets It Wrong This week on The Tox Lab, we’re turning our attention inward to errors in toxicology.From calibration and maintenance mistakes to reporting issues and even instances of fraud, we… Read episode notes

Oct 27, 2025 | 00:18:04 Episode 51: Brorphine – Could Orphines Be the Next Nitazenes? This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing brorphine — a novel synthetic opioid that briefly appeared on the drug market around 2020.We explore its emergence and pharmacology,… Read episode notes

Oct 20, 2025 | 00:22:18 Episode 50: One Year of The Tox Lab – Reflections, Updates, and What’s Next This week on The Tox Lab, we’re celebrating our 50th episode — and one whole year of toxicology talk! 🎉Join us as we look back on some of… Read episode notes

Oct 13, 2025 | 00:26:47 Episode 49: Arsenic – A Victorian Poison in the Modern World This week on The Tox Lab, we’re revisiting one of history’s most infamous poisons — arsenic.Once dubbed the king of poisons, arsenic still poses real risks today. We… Read episode notes

Oct 6, 2025 | 00:24:14 Episode 48: Mushroom Toxicology – Trends, Toxins, and Mislabelled Products This week on The Tox Lab, we’re embracing autumn and diving into the fascinating, and sometimes dangerous, world of mushrooms.We explore ten years of mushroom exposure data reported… Read episode notes

Sep 29, 2025 | 00:27:19 Episode 47: Clozapine – Unpacking the Complexities of a Unique Antipsychotic This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at clozapine, a highly effective antipsychotic with a complex toxicological profile.We review a study from Western Sydney… Read episode notes

Sep 22, 2025 | 00:18:39 Episode 46: The Kappa Hypothesis – Medetomidine, Dysphoria, and Hallucinations This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing medetomidine and its unexpected association with hallucinations.We review a recent paper highlighting its emergence in the drug supply and the… Read episode notes

Sep 15, 2025 | 00:15:58 Episode 45: Diarylethylamines – The Rise, Risks, and Disappearance of Ketamine Substitutes This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at diphenidine and other diarylethylamines — a class of drugs that briefly emerged as alternatives to ketamine.We… Read episode notes

Sep 8, 2025 | 00:18:28 Episode 44: Ozempic and GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs – Benefits, Overdose, and Counterfeits This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into the world of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including the well-known weight loss drug Ozempic.We explore how these drugs work and… Read episode notes

Sep 1, 2025 | 00:25:00 Episode 43: Toxicology Mysteries – A Series of Poisoning Cases This week on The Tox Lab, we’re shaking things up with a case-based mystery episode.We walk through four real-life poisoning cases, starting with how each patient presented and… Read episode notes

Aug 25, 2025 | 00:22:34 Episode 42: 2C-B vs Tucibi (Pink Cocaine) – What’s the Difference? This week on The Tox Lab, we’re talking about 2C-B and “Tusi” — two drugs often confused, but very different in composition and effects.We explore Dutch Poison Information… Read episode notes

Aug 18, 2025 | 00:23:11 Episode 41: Can One Dose Cure Addiction? The Promise and Peril of Ibogaine This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at ibogaine — a plant-derived alkaloid attracting interest as a potential treatment for addiction.We discuss a study… Read episode notes

Aug 11, 2025 | 00:27:39 Episode 40: Nicotine – From Potential Benefits to Hidden Dangers This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into the surprising sides of nicotine.Beyond its well-known risks, we explore how nicotine might have therapeutic potential in conditions like… Read episode notes

Aug 4, 2025 | 00:21:57 Episode 39: Plastic in the Fentanyl – Why should we care about BTMPS? This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at BTMPS.A compound used as a light stabiliser in plastics, BTMPS unexpectedly surfaced in the U.S. drug… Read episode notes

Jul 28, 2025 | 00:21:11 Episode 38: Death Cap Mushrooms – Amatoxins and the Erin Patterson Case This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at death cap mushrooms following the recent conclusion of the Erin Patterson case.We explore the toxicology of… Read episode notes

Jul 21, 2025 | 00:21:21 Episode 37: Nitazene Metabolites in Post-Mortem Casework This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into novel nitazene metabolites in post-mortem toxicology.We discuss findings from our own paper identifying metabolites of protonitazene in post-mortem casework,… Read episode notes

Jul 14, 2025 | 00:19:02 Episode 36: AI in Toxicology – Potential and Pitfalls In this week's episode, we’re exploring the role of AI in toxicology. From large language models supporting drug identification to machine learning tools navigating the vast datasets produced… Read episode notes

Jul 7, 2025 | 00:32:53 Episode 35: Xylazine and Other α2 Agonists – Clinical and Forensic Perspectives This week on The Tox Lab, we're diving into the world of α2 adrenergic receptor agonists. We explore how xylazine, when combined with heroin, can both potentiate drug-seeking… Read episode notes

Jun 30, 2025 | 00:19:08 Episode 34: Cocaine + Alcohol – Cardiac & Hepatic Consequences This week, we’re talking about the toxic combination of cocaine and alcohol. We explore the formation of cocaethylene, and the role both cocaine and cocaethylene play in arrhythmias… Read episode notes

Jun 23, 2025 | 00:24:27 Episode 33: Tianeptine – From Antidepressant to Gas Station Heroin This week on The Tox Lab, we're taking a closer look at tianeptine—a drug originally developed as an antidepressant, but now making headlines as “gas station heroin” due… Read episode notes

Jun 16, 2025 | 00:16:37 Episode 32: Toxic Tails – A Look at Common Pet Poisons Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs? What makes lilies so toxic to cats? In this episode of The Tox Lab, we explore the fascinating (and sometimes surprising) toxicology… Read episode notes

Jun 9, 2025 | 00:30:01 Episode 31: Inside the EUDA 2025 Report – Drug Trends Across Europe This week, we dive into the European Drug Report 2025, breaking down the latest data on drug trends across Europe.From rising cocaine detections and shifting cannabis use patterns… Read episode notes

Jun 2, 2025 | 00:20:41 Episode 30: Methamphetamine Enantiomers Explained – Mirror Image Molecules in Drug Testing In this episode, we dive deep into the world of methamphetamine enantiomers—those chemically identical but biologically distinct mirror-image molecules. We examine a paper that looks at the suitability… Read episode notes

May 26, 2025 | 00:22:28 Episode 29: Delta-8 THC vs Delta-9 THC – How One Double Bond Alters Clinical Effects In this week's episode, we explore the growing world of delta-8 THC—how it compares to delta-9 THC, what recent research reveals about its effects when consumed orally, and… Read episode notes

May 19, 2025 | 00:24:01 Episode 28: Bicycle Day — Albert Hofmann and His Historic LSD Trip What started as routine lab work led to one of the most iconic bike rides in scientific history. In this episode, we dive into the story of Albert… Read episode notes

May 12, 2025 | 00:25:46 Episode 27: Ketamine – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly In this week’s episode, we explore the evolving role of ketamine in clinical practice—from its antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression to its potential use in opioid use disorder.… Read episode notes

May 5, 2025 | 00:23:48 Episode 26: Beyond Broscience: The Toxic Truth About SARMs In this week’s episode, we explore the expanding role of SARMs in the performance-enhancing drug landscape. Often marketed in “research-only” products, these compounds are anything but risk-free. We… Read episode notes

Apr 28, 2025 | 00:22:10 Episode 25: Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine – Uncovering Kratom’s Alkaloids In this week's episode, we turn our focus to mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the primary active components of kratom. We explore what these alkaloids are, how they behave post-mortem,… Read episode notes

Apr 21, 2025 | 00:19:38 Episode 24: What is in that Vape? In this week’s episode, we delve into the growing issue of adulterated vapes. We explore a study uncovering synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) in THC vape products, and… Read episode notes

Apr 14, 2025 | 00:17:15 Episode 23: Death Coffee and Penconazole Toxicity In this week's episode, we discuss a couple of interesting case reports including a case series on 'Death Coffee' and a complex suicide case involving penconazole. Hope you… Read episode notes

Apr 7, 2025 | 00:15:32 Episode 22: Harold Shipman Part 2: Exhuming the Truth A suspicious will led to the exhumation of Kathleen Grundy—and toxicology revealed a shocking truth. In this week's episode, we examine the forensic testing that exposed Shipman’s crimes,… Read episode notes

Mar 31, 2025 | 00:18:39 Episode 21: Harold Shipman – Dr Jekyll of Hyde A trusted doctor. A quiet town. And a trail of unexplained deaths. In this episode, we trace Harold Shipman’s fall from promising physician to prolific killer. From his… Read episode notes

Mar 24, 2025 | 00:17:50 Episode 20: Nitrous Oxide: No Laughing Matter In this week's episode, we explore nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. We'll discuss its historical use, pharmacological effects, potential toxicities, and the evolving legal landscape surrounding… Read episode notes

Mar 17, 2025 | 00:16:53 Episode 19: Poppy Seed Toxicity: The Truth Behind the Bagel In this week's episode, we delve into the unexpected hazards associated with poppy seed consumption. We'll explore recent cases of thebaine poisoning in Australia linked to non-food-grade poppy… Read episode notes

Mar 10, 2025 | 00:14:49 Episode 18: A Soldier, a Smuggler, and a Cocaine Bear: Tales of Meth and Mayhem A WWII soldier on meth, a smuggler in freefall, and a bear on cocaine. In this week's episode, we break down Aimo Koivunen’s unbelievable survival after a methamphetamine… Read episode notes

Mar 3, 2025 | 00:18:46 Episode 17: Decoding Time of Death: The Post-Mortem Interval and Toxicology Challenges Interpreting toxicology results after death isn’t always straightforward—especially when time is a factor. In this episode, we discuss the post-mortem interval (PMI) and how it complicates toxicological interpretation.… Read episode notes

Feb 24, 2025 | 00:15:23 Episode 16: Synthetic Cathinones In this week's episode, we break down synthetic cathinones, a group of powerful stimulants linked to severe health effects. We discuss what they are, their toxicology, and the… Read episode notes

Feb 17, 2025 | 00:16:16 Episode 15: Toxic TikTok Challenges Some viral trends are more dangerous than they seem. In this episode, we break down the toxicology behind risky TikTok challenges. From alcohol poisoning to deadly overdoses, chemical… Read episode notes

Feb 10, 2025 | 00:21:33 Episode 14: Have we reached peak Nitazene? In this week's episode, we delve into the rising concern of nitazenes in the recreational drug market. Our discussion centers on a recent study that examines 15 previously… Read episode notes

Feb 3, 2025 | 00:18:34 Episode 13: Mice, Music, and Methamphetamine Toxicity In this week's episode, we explore the unexpected ways loud music might influence methamphetamine toxicity in mice. We discuss the behavioural and neurological changes observed after mice were… Read episode notes

Jan 27, 2025 | 00:20:36 Episode 12: Slushie Poisonings In this week's episode, we delve into the chilling reality of slushie poisoning. We discuss real-life cases making headlines, explore the symptoms of glycerol intoxication, and break down… Read episode notes

Jan 20, 2025 | 00:19:48 Episode 11: The Rise of Street Benzodiazepines In this week's episode, we explore the growing impact of street benzodiazepines on drug-related deaths across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Join us as we delve into the… Read episode notes

Jan 13, 2025 | 00:19:29 Episode 10: Elephant in the Room: The Tusko Experiment What happens when scientific curiosity crosses ethical boundaries? In this week's episode, we examine the infamous 1962 experiment involving Tusko the elephant and a massive dose of LSD,… Read episode notes

Jan 6, 2025 | 00:16:26 Episode 9: New Year, New Risks: The deadly side of fitness fixes As the New Year kicks off, countless resolutions center around weight loss and fitness. But in the quest for quick results, how far is too far? In this… Read episode notes

Dec 16, 2024 | 00:28:55 Episode 8: Festive Poisons Have you ever wondered how toxic your festive flora is? Does Nutmeg have a dark side? In this week's episode, we discuss poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe to try… Read episode notes

Dec 9, 2024 | 00:22:21 Episode 7: Truth or Bias – self reporting vs lab testing In this week's episode we aim to answer the question: can people really be trusted to report their own drug use? We discuss a paper by Wolfe et… Read episode notes

Dec 2, 2024 | 00:13:36 Episode 6: Methanol Poisoning In this week's episode, we discuss the methanol poisonings in Laos, and a paper by Doreen et al. which covers methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol in Uganda in… Read episode notes

Nov 25, 2024 | 00:19:14 Episode 5: Swedish poisonings and sauna deaths In this week’s episode we discuss a paper by Linqvist et al. on Swedish poisoning deaths from 2000-2022 and a paper by Rhode et al. on sauna deaths… Read episode notes

Nov 18, 2024 | 00:18:18 Episode 4: Bromazolam and Desalkylgidazepam In this week’s episode, we discuss a paper by Ellefsen et al. on Bromazolam detections in post-mortem cases in Travis County Texas, and a paper by Mérette et… Read episode notes

Nov 11, 2024 | 00:23:42 Episode 3: Psychedelics In this week's episode, we discuss a paper by Kopra et al. covering psychedelic- related deaths in England, Wales and Northern Ireland over a 25 year period and… Read episode notes

Nov 4, 2024 | 00:26:49 Episode 2: Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids and N-Ethylhexedrone In this week’s episode, we discuss the recently published ONS data on deaths related to drug poisonings in England and Wales in 2023. We also discuss a paper… Read episode notes

Oct 28, 2024 | 00:27:49 Episode 1: Nitazene and Xylazine In this week’s episode we discuss the recent OHID report talking about synthetic opioid deaths in England. We also discuss a paper by Bedard et al. talking about… Read episode notes