The Drugs {Laws} Don't Work: Comparing Drug Toxicity and Drug Policy

On Wednesday 17th June, PubSci is delighted to welcome Dr. Caroline Copeland from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science at King's College, London.

Caroline is a neuropharmacologist and neurophysiologist who leads a research group which develops innovative healthcare strategies for people drug-users – like a wearable skin sensor to protect against opioid overdose. She also advises the Home Office on drugs and novel psychoactive substances, with an emphasis on how drug policies influence drug-related deaths.

At June's PubSci, Caroline examines the tension between drug toxicities and drug policies, looks at why the illicit drug market is now more dangerous than ever, and explores how this mess might be fixed.

As a scientist and Director of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality, there is perhaps nobody in this country better placed to tell us how drug laws are made, why some substances are legal while others are not, and why it is that – all too often – the drugs laws don't work.

Join PubSci and Dr Caoline Copeland at the Old King's Head on 17th June to discover the science of drug laws (and the science that gets ignored).

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The venue is PubSci's regular home, The Old King's Head near Borough Market, which offers a great range of drinks, has a happy hour before 7pm, and opens the kitchen serving classic pub grub especially for us.

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See below for important booking details – please also check the FAQ.

PubSci presents accessible science talks in the comfort of a pub meeting room so you can enjoy top quality talks with a drink in your hand. No specialist knowledge is needed.

Come along if:

• You've ever wondered what the real difference is between the legal drugs you can buy at a supermarket and the kind of illegal substances that could land you in J*il.
• You'd like to know how drugs laws are made, whether they are truly evidence-based, and why some drugs are legal while others are banned.
• You want to stay informed about one of the biggest social issues of our time.
• You enjoiy evidence-based talks in a relaxed, friendly and informal atmoshphere.

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PubSci talks run for around 45 minutes, followed by a short break and a Q&A session. We aim to finish by 9pm. The Old King's Head has a happy hour before 7 and the kitchen serves traditional pub grub. The nearest tube is London Bridge (Borough High Street exit). See FAQs for more.

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Booking is on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis.

Each ticket type has a separate allocation – please check both for availability.

• Book without donating (max 4 tickets) if you prefer to put cash in the pot on the night.
• Book for one + Support PubSci (max 1 ticket) if you'd like to contribute with your booking. You don't input a number of tickets, just the amount you wish to contribute which automatically reserves you one spot at the event.

If Book without donating is sold out, scroll to check Book for one + Support PubSci.

Multiple tickets

If you need multiple tickets, you could get one Support PubSci ticket for whatever amount you're comfortable with contributing for your group, then add the rest of your tickets for free as Book without donating. You can do this in one transaction, but how you book is up to you.

We normally also take a cash collection on the night for those who prefer to support PubSci that way but for January, we’ll be donating all cash to St. Mungo’s instead.

How much are tickets...?

There's no set 'price' – we trust you to contribute what you think is fair for an evening of great science. The precise amount is up to you, but the price of a pub drink is probably a good measure.

PubSci receives no other income. More information at the bottom of this page.

Dr Caroline Copeland is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology & Toxicology at King’s College London, and the Director of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality .

She has a PhD from UCL in the neuropharmacology and neurophysiology, and worked on bioengineering systems to understand neuronal network dynamics at Imperial College before applying her neuropharmacology and mathematical modelling skills to the pharmacoepidemiology of drug-related deaths while at St George’s, University of London.

She heads a research group at King’s whosewith the broad collective aim of improving healthcare strategies for people who use drugs, including the identification of drug-drug interactions between licensed medicines and illicit substances to prevent adverse effects.

Caroline sits on the Home Office’s Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs Novel Psychoactive Substances (ACMD NPS) Sub-Committee, and the Welsh National Implementation Board for Drug Poisoning Prevention (NIBDPP) where she examines how national and international drug policy influences drug-related death trends.

PubSci is delighted to welcome Caroline as our speakerfor June 2026.

PubSci presents accessible science talks in the comfort of a pub meeting room so you can enjoy top quality science talks with a drink in your hand.

It is an independent initiative run by volunteers, is not-for-profit, and receives no funding other than attendee contributions.

We believe science is for everyone and we want everybody to be able to afford our events, so we run PubSci on a Pay-What-You-Can basis. To contribute via Eventbrite choose "Book for one + support PubSci". To contribute on the night, please bring cash.

By making a donation, you make it possible for PubSci to put on events like this. If you're not sure what's a reasonable amount, we suggest the same as you'd pay for a drink at the pub. If you want to support somebody attending who can't afford it, consider putting in the price of two drinks.

Note: We aim to keep PubSci accessible for all, but it is unsuitable for under 18s as we meet in the upstairs room of a pub. Regrettably, there is no wheelchair access.

Check out our Future Events page where you can also subscribe to our Google Calendar. PubSci events will then automatically appear in your own iCal compatible calendar.

You can learn more about PubSci via our LinkTree and download our events programme here.

Please see the below for all your FAQs

Info: Order drinks and food at the downstairs bar, then join us upstairs.

Info: Introduction followed by the main talk.

Info: Stretch your legs, refill your glass, then come back for part 2. Timing is approximate.

Info: We aim to wrap up by 9pm.

Info: Carry on the conversation. Northern Line trains stop running at 10pm until late Spring 2026

Event Venue

The Old King's Head, King's Head Yard, London, United Kingdom

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