Cocaine is probably the world’s most popular hard drug. Produced mostly in Colombia and consumed by the rest of the world, especially the US and UK, the cocaine market has an estimated global value of $120billion.

Where does the characteristic euphoric & energetic high come from though? And why can it be so addictive?

Cocaine’s neural mechanism is fascinating and affects the brain more deeply than we first realised.

For as long as I can remember I’ve loved music.

At 3 I was dancing in front of the TV to Smooth Criminal, at 9 I convinced my parents to buy me a rap compilation album (much to their confusion) and since I’ve enjoyed all-sorts, from opera, trance, classical and K-pop.

In today’s world we have music as the backdrop to almost anything we do and we can take it anywhere we go.

If art is how we decorate space, then music is how we decorate time.

Over the years I noticed an occasional feeling which crept up on me when I listened to certain songs. It would happen rarely, and only with pieces I loved or found particularly beautiful. …

It seems easier and easier to fall into a low mood these days. Depression and anxiety rates are now generally higher than they’ve been before and the year we’ve had really hasn’t helped.

Not having much to look forward to can really impact your mood negatively, as can a lack of variety and over-familiarity of the space you occupy. Lethargy and low-mood can slowly creep in, but luckily there are some very easy, proven methods to lift yourself out of it.

1. Take Slow and Deep Breaths

Simply and easy. The way you breathe is strongly connected to how you feel.

If you find yourself stressed or in a low mood; stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, and take some long, deep, slow breaths. Push out your stomach as you breathe in and pull it in as you breathe out. …

When I was a younger I thought ‘wouldn’t it be amazing to have a f*ck buddy!’

A friend you can banter with, knock back a few drinks with, shag and then say ‘see ya later!’ without any messy feelings, jealousy or expectations. Just two mates chilling and boning whenever they felt like it.

I’ll caveat here, I had this thought when I was in my mid-teens, before I’d ever been in a relationship or come anywhere close to having sex. …

You know that feeling when a pesky fly insists on buzzing around your head?

Most people I know try swatting them. I attempt to usher them out of the window as I’m not a fan of killing, but even if I wanted to kill it, I couldn’t — it’s almost impossible to catch the damn thing.

I was watching Attack on Titan a few years ago which made me think about this. For the uninitiated; AoT is a popular anime in which humans live behind great walls for fear of giants roaming around outside.

There was a scene where humans were trying to take down a giant the size of a skyscraper, and a character said ‘he’s huge but he moves slow!’ …

“I wish people would stop playing dating games”

A phrase I’ve heard uttered more times than I can count.

The thing about game-playing is that no matter how hard we try, some form of ‘game’ will almost always be played in relationships, especially in the early stages. It’s simply because it’s a natural occurrence, even a necessity, in the dynamics of human attraction.

We’ve all felt the rush of getting to know someone new & attractive. Intrigue, lust, uncertainty and anticipation all mix into an intoxicating cocktail we call desire. …

I’m fascinated by drugs, I can’t help it and I can’t hide it. My friends look at me like I’m some kind of super-weirdo and my family worry I’m a 1960’s hippie.

I’m not one of those ‘usual-types’ though; the ones who go out every weekend and snort copious amounts of cocaine or smoke tons of weed until life becomes one big stupor.

No, my fascination with drugs lies in how they work in the brain and their massive therapeutic potential, which is a largely untapped reservoir.

Now, obviously there are SO many types of drugs. A drug, loosely defined, is any foreign substance which has an effect on the body or the brain. The definition is so loose, in fact, substances which are endogenous (created in the body) are also seen as drugs when they’re externally introduced to the body. Like DMT, which naturally occurs in the brain as possibly a consequence of REM sleep. …