A top London university has asked its students to snort cocaine as part of a clinical trial into the effects of the Class A drug.
In an email to hundreds of students sent last week, a professor at King’s College London seeks ‘healthy male volunteers, 25-40 years of age, to take part in a clinical study involving nasal administration of cocaine’.
The university wants to better understand how the Class A drug effects the body, calling it an ‘important scientific study’.
King’s College London has asked for volunteers to snort cocaine as part of a clinical study into the effects of the Class A drug
The college is one of the most prestigious in the country and can count 10 Nobel Prize laureates among its alumni
It will not accept volunteers who use the drug recreationally, nor those studying medicine or dentistry, while participants will not be able to cut or dye their hair for 120 days during the study as scientists investigate a wide range of affects the drug has on the body.
Those who are accepted will be given ‘reasonable financial compensation’ for the time and expenses incurred.
The email explains the study will mean that: ‘After cocaine administration, repeated biological samples (blood, urine, hair, sweat, oral fluid) will be taken to compare and investigate how cocaine and its metabolites are spread through the human body.’
The project, which has been approved by London Westminster Research Ethics Committee, will be supervised by the clinical toxicology department at St Thomas’ Hospital.
A spokesman for the university said: ‘This is an important scientific study to investigate how cocaine and its metabolites are spread through the human body.
‘All the relevant ethical approvals were received for this study. The study will be conducted under the highest level of medical supervision in a dedicated clinical research suite. Further information about the NHS ethical approval process, which was followed, is available on our website.’
An estimated 700,000 people in Britain took cocaine last year, making it the second most popular drug after cannabis.
Founded in 1829 and named to indicate the patronage of King George IV, King’s College has about 18,600 full-time students and was ranked the 12th best university in Europ e in the 2012 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
There are 10 Nobel Prize laureates among King’s alumni and current and former faculty.
THE EMAIL FROM KING’S COLLEGE WHICH ASKS STUDENTS TO USE COCAINE
HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Who are we looking for?
Healthy male volunteers, 25-40 years of age, to take part in a clinical study involving nasal administration of cocaine. Medical and dental students will not be enrolled to this study.
What will happen?
After cocaine administration, repeated biological samples (blood, urine, hair, sweat, oral fluid) will be taken to compare and investigate how cocaine and its metabolites are spread through the human body.
What are the requirements?
Potential participants must be fit and well, have no past medical history and not be users of recreational drugs. They must be happy not to cut or dye their hair for 120 days during the study follow up period.
How long will it take?
During the first visit we will check your suitability for the study. The second visit (main experiment) will be around thirty days later and will take most of the day. We would then like to see you 5 more times over a 90 day period so that some repeat biological samples can be taken.
Will you benefit from taking part in this study?
There is no direct benefit from taking part. Reasonable financial compensation will be made for your time, effort and expenses incurred from completing the study.
Who is overseeing the study?
The study will be supervised by the Clinical Toxicology department from St Thomas’ Hospital, London. The research team includes a medical doctor (registrar or consultant) who will be present at all times.
What now?
All participant information will be anonymised and held confidentially. All participant information will be anonymised and held confidentially. If you are interested in taking part and would like to find more information please primarily address any enquires to the Chief Scientific Officer) at [email address deleted] were you will be provided with a full participant information sheet.
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