Madness drummer in warning over hallucinogenic drugs

A member of the band Madness warned of the dangers of taking hallucinogenic drugs as he helped launch a new schizophrenia treatment programme in Dublin on Thursday.

Daniel Woodgate, better-known as the drummer Woody from the veteran English ska chart-toppers, said he wanted to lend assistance to pharmaceutical firm Janssen's Steps Towards Independent Living initiative due to his brother's struggles with schizophrenia.

LSD experiments

After experimenting with LSD twice in his teens, his younger sibling Nick Woodgate became introverted, detached, began hearing voices in his head and endured regular episodes of distress and paranoia, according to the musician.

“It has to be pointed out that you’re taking a risk if you’re taking hallucinogenic drugs.

“It’s a bit of a lottery, you get a lot of people saying they’ve smoked [marijuana] for years and they’re fine, but it’s a bit like playing Russian roulette.

“It definitely opened up a door that never closed with Nick,” he said.

The 10-week recovery programme being promoted by Janssen includes modules in healthy eating, personal development, socialising and substance abuse, among other areas.

Overwhelmingly positive

Following trials in Westmeath, Wicklow and Monaghan earlier this year, the company, a subsidiary of the multi-billion euro Johnson & Johnson group, reported overwhelmingly positive feedback and is now offering a free toolkit and training for implementation of the programme.

The venture has won approval from Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch, and Mr Woodgate believes it can help raise awareness of the true nature of an often misunderstood disorder.

“People misunderstand the illness. My experience is that people are very scared of the word schizophrenia, because they associate it with axe-wielding maniacs, which of course is false,” he said.

“One thing I’ve been trying to get across is that every person has been given a gift in this life.

“We’ve all got a talent to do something, and because of the stigma attached to schizophrenia, often people aren’t given the chance to blossom.”