Introduction
When we talk about drugs, conversations are often shaped by stigma and policy, not science.
We equate legality with safety, and illegality with danger — often ignoring what research actually tells us.
In 2010, renowned neuropsychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt challenged this thinking. He published a groundbreaking analysis ranking substances not by public opinion or legal status, but by their actual harm — to individuals and to society.
The result was the now-famous David Nutt Curve, a visual that still stirs debate to this day.
Let’s break it down — and explain why it’s so relevant to our work at Period Pill.
What Is the David Nutt Curve?
Published in The Lancet, the study used 16 criteria to assess harm, split across two categories:
- Harm to users (e.g. mortality, dependence, mental health impact)
- Harm to others (e.g. crime, economic cost, family/community impact)
Each drug was scored and plotted, producing a bar chart that ranked 20 substances from most to least harmful.
Key insights:
- Alcohol ranked as the most harmful drug overall — more than heroin or crack cocaine.
- Substances like LSD, MDMA, and magic mushrooms scored surprisingly low on total harm.
- The results highlighted a major mismatch between drug laws and scientific evidence.
“The Misuse of Drugs Act is not fit for purpose… it makes no sense to outlaw drugs with lower harms while legal ones do far more damage.”
— Professor David Nutt, 2010
Where Does 3-MMC Fit In?
The David Nutt study did not include 3-MMC, as the compound was not yet widely known or used at the time of publication. Today, however, it’s gaining increased attention in scientific and medical communities.
At Period Pill, we are exploring 3-MMC as a potential medicine for symptoms associated with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) — a severe hormonal mood disorder that includes symptoms like depression, mood instability, and physical pain.
In our recent study with Professor Johannes Ramaekers (Maastricht University), early findings indicate that 3-MMC is associated with reduced pain and improved mood in a controlled research setting.
This is highly relevant, as PMDD is characterized by cyclical depressive symptoms and physical discomfort that profoundly impact daily life.
We do not promote unregulated or recreational use.
Our mission is to rigorously investigate whether psychoactive compounds like 3-MMC could one day be safe, effective, and clinically applicable treatments — if guided by science and regulation.
We are here to:
- Break the silence around hormone-related mental health
- Push for rigorous, inclusive research
- Provide science-based education around misunderstood substances
Because women’s health deserves better than taboos.
And psychoactive medicine deserves better than blanket bans.
Let’s build a new narrative. Together.
References
- Nutt, D. J., King, L. A., & Phillips, L. D. (2010). Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis.
The Lancet, 376(9752), 1558–1565.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61462-6 - EMCDDA – European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Information on 3-MMC and other emerging substances.
https://www.emcdda.europa.eu - ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs)
Advice on 3-MMC and the regulatory context.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acmd-advice-on-3mmc - Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Analysis of the policy implications of the Nutt study.
https://www.tdpf.org.uk -
Safety and cognitive pharmacodynamics following dose escalations with 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC): a first in human, designer drug study
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-024-02042-7