RAND: Microdosing surges as millions turned to psychedelics in 2025
Mental Health Weekly – January 23, 2026
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Millions of U.S. adults are now microdosing psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA, signaling a major shift in drug studies. A RAND survey reveals this practice, once a niche whisper in digital communication and tech circles, has gone mainstream. Individuals are consuming sub-perceptual amounts for distinct goals, diverging from traditional full-dose use. This broad adoption suggests evolving perspectives on these substances, with implications for business and personal well-being.
Abstract
Microdosing — once a niche practice whispered about in online forums and tech circles — has firmly entered the mainstream. A new RAND survey suggests that millions of U.S. adults are now taking sub‐perceptual amounts of psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD and MDMA, often with goals that differ sharply from those associated with traditional, full‐dose use.