Drugs Habits and Social Policy
May 27, 2026
Estelle Miller, David Menkes, Suresh Muthukumaraswamy et al.
Laws that prohibit access to illicit drugs can increase harm because manufacturers and distributors have variable control over drug supply and quality. New Zealand passed legislation in 2021 to address this by allowing licensed providers to directly analyze samples from consumers. This paper describes how researchers obtained the first such license to collect and analyze illicitly sourced psychedelic substances used by people who microdose. Obtaining the license was a lengthy process. The legislation enabled research that fills a gap in knowledge about whether drug content matches consumer expectations, and it allowed provision of harm reduction information to this population.
Journal of chromatographic science
November 15, 2025
Mahima Bansal, Estelle Miller, Rachael Sumner et al.
A new high-performance liquid chromatography method accurately measures LSD and separates it from its degradation product iso-LSD. Validated according to international guidelines, the method works even when LSD is exposed to stress conditions that cause breakdown. Applied to illicit microdosing samples from a New Zealand drug checking service, the analysis found a significant discrepancy between users' estimated doses and actual LSD levels. This highlights risks for people using non-pharmaceutical microdosing preparations and underscores the need for reliable quality control to ensure safety.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 22, 2024
Estelle Miller, Vida Bojovic, Olivia Maddren et al.
Online sources provide a wide range of information on microdosing psychedelics, covering substances, preparation methods, doses, schedules, and safety strategies. A qualitative analysis of 174 unique resources from medical databases, video websites, forums, drug-specific sites, search engines, and social media found no scientific recommendations exist for microdosing, as it is a relatively new concept. The authors recommend future in-person interviews and sample collection to better understand how people prepare microdoses.