The emergence of microdosing introduced a novel approach to consuming classic psychedelic substances, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin mushrooms, in ways previously unconventional. Whereas traditional illicit substance use often seeks euphoric experiences, microdosing deliberately avoids such effects in favor of perceived self-enhancing benefits. Increasingly common in contemporary society, microdosing has shown potential therapeutic value in alleviating conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress. The current study’s findings help explain why microdosing has become one of the fastest-growing trends in illicit substance use, while also distinguishing it sharply from other forms of such use. Interviews with those who actively microdose psychedelics provide key insights as to the various motivations for microdosing psychedelics that range from bettering one’s general wellbeing to assisting in the abstinence of other harmful substances characterized to be “worse” by participants.
AndersonT.PetrankerR.RosenbaumD.WeissmanC. R.Dinh-WilliamsL. A.HuiK.HapkeE.FarbN. A. (2019). Microdosing psychedelics: Personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers. Psychopharmacology, 236(2), 731–740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5106-2
2.
BasedowL. A.Kuitunen-PaulS. (2022). Motives for the use of serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Review, 41(6), 1391–1403. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13480
3.
BeatonB.CopesH.WebbM.HochstetlerA.HendricksP. S. (2020). Accounting for microdosing classic psychedelics. Journal of Drug Issues, 50(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042619871008
4.
BraunV.ClarkeV. (2021). To saturate or not to saturate? Questioning data saturation as a useful concept for thematic analysis and sample-size rationales. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(2), 201–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1704846
5.
CarbonaroT. M.BradstreetM. P.BarrettF. S.MacLeanK. A.JesseR.JohnsonM. W.GriffithsR. R. (2016). Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1268–1278. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116662634
6.
Carhart-HarrisR. L.NuttD. J. (2010). User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire Johnstad 47 study. Journal of Substance Use, 15(4), 283–300. https://doi.org/10.3109/14659890903271624
7.
DollarC. B.HendrixJ. A. (2018). “I’m not a traditional woman”: Tranquilizer misuse as self-medication among adult women. American Behavioral Scientist, 62(11), 1562–1585. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764218787027
8.
FadimanJ. (2011). The psychedelic explorer’s guide: Safe, therapeutic, and sacred journeys. Park Street Press.
9.
FadimanJ.KorbS. (2019). Might microdosing psychedelics be safe and beneficial? An initial exploration. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(2), 118–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1593561
10.
HendricksP. S. (2018). Awe: A putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. International Review of Psychiatry, 30(4), 331–342. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1474185
11.
HuttenN. R.MasonN. L.DolderP. C.KuypersK. P. (2019). Motives and side-effects of microdosing with psychedelics among users. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 22(7), 426–434. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyz029
12.
JohnsonM. W.Garcia-RomeuA.JohnsonP. S.GriffithsR. R. (2017). An online survey of tobacco smoking cessation associated with naturalistic psychedelic use. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 31(7), 841–850. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116684335
13.
JohnsonM. W.GriffithsR. R.HendricksP. S.HenningfieldJ. E. (2018). The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the controlled substances act. Neuropharmacology, 142, 143–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.012
14.
JohnstadP. (2023). Entheogenic spirituality: Characteristics of spiritually motivated psychedelics use. The International Journal for The Psychology of Religion, 33(4), 380–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2022.2148060
15.
JohnstadP. G. (2018). Powerful substances in tiny amounts: An interview study of psychedelic microdosing. Nordisk alkohol- & narkotikatidskrift: NAT, 35(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/1455072517753339
16.
KaypakA. C.RazA. (2022). Macrodosing to microdosing with psychedelics: Clinical, social, and cultural perspectives. Transcultural Psychiatry, 59(5), 665–674. https://doi.org/10.1177/13634615221119386
17.
KometerM.SchmidtA.BachmannR.StuderusE.SeifritzE.VollenweiderF. X. (2012). Psilocybin biases facial recognition, goal-directed behavior, and mood state toward positive relative to negative emotions through different serotonergic subreceptors. Biological Psychiatry, 72(11), 898–906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.04.005
18.
KuypersK. P.NgL.ErritzoeD.KnudsenG. M.NicholsC. D.NicholsD. E.PaniL.SoulaA.NuttD. (2019). Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33(9), 1039–1057. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881119857204
19.
KuypersK. P. C. (2020). The therapeutic potential of microdosing psychedelics in depression. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 10, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125320950567
20.
LernerM.LyversM. (2006). Values and beliefs of psychedelic drug users: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 38(2), 143–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2006.10399838
21.
LiechtiM. E. (2017). Modern clinical research on LSD. Neuropsychopharmacology: Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 42(11), 2114–2127. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.86
22.
LyversM.MeesterM. (2012). Illicit use of LSD or psilocybin, but not MDMA or nonpsychedelic drugs, is associated with mystical experiences in a dose-dependent manner. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 44(5), 410–417. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2012.736842
23.
MessnerM. A. (1990). When bodies are weapons: Masculinity and violence in sport. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 25(3), 203–220. https://doi.org/10.1177/101269029002500303
24.
MóróL.SimonK.BárdI.RáczJ. (2011). Voice of the psychonauts: Coping, life purpose, and spirituality in psychedelic drug users. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 43(3), 188–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2011.605661
NourM. M.EvansL.Carhart-HarrisR. L. (2017). Psychedelics, personality and political perspectives. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 49(3), 182–191. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2017.1312643
27.
PeraltaR. L. (2007). College alcohol use and the embodiment of hegemonic masculinity among European American men. Sex Roles, 56(11), 741–756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9233-1
ProchazkovaL.LippeltD. P.ColzatoL. S.KucharM.SjoerdsZ.HommelB. (2018). Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting. Psychopharmacology, 235(12), 3401–3413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5049-7
30.
SzaszT. (2003). Ceremonial chemistry: The ritual persecution of drugs, addicts, and pushers. Syracuse University Press.
31.
WebbM.CopesH.HendricksP. S. (2019). Narrative identity, rationality, and microdosing classic psychedelics. International Journal of Drug Policy, 70, 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.04.013
32.
YanakievaS.PolychroniN.FamilyN.WilliamsL. T.LukeD. P.TerhuneD. B. (2019). The effects of microdose LSD on time perception: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology, 236(4), 1159–1170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5119-x
