Causes Or Cures

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Zohar Rubinstein, a clinical psychologist, researcher and trauma expert about an early and deeply sensitive study examining how different substances may have influenced early trauma responses among survivors of the October 7 Nova music festival attack.Many survivors had taken substances just hours before the traumatic event — including classic psychedelics, MDMA, cannabis, alcohol, or none at all. Dr. Rubinstein’s team approached this research with extreme care, focusing on respect, consent, and the ethical challenges of studying trauma in real time.Together, they discuss:Why Dr. Rubinstein became interested in studying trauma at the moment it happens, not years laterHow the research team worked respectfully with survivors in the aftermath of mass traumaThe challenges of studying real-world substance use without lab-verified dosingWhy survivors who had taken classic psychedelics reported lower anxiety and fewer early PTSD symptoms comp