Microdosing psychedelics: Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction
International Journal of Drug Policy November 25, 2019 Toby Lea, Nicole Amada, Henrik Jungaberle et al. 119 citations
People who microdose psychedelics like psilocybin or LSD are most often doing so to improve their mental health, for personal development, or to enhance cognitive performance. A 2018 international online survey of 525 current microdosers found that the perceived short-term benefits cluster into three areas: improved mood and reduced anxiety, a greater sense of connection to others and the environment, and cognitive enhancement. Unwanted effects included stronger-than-expected psychedelic effects, anxiety-related effects, and physical adverse effects. Most participants (78%) reported using at least one harm reduction practice. The findings indicate that microdosing is commonly used as a self-managed mental health therapy, often as an alternative or complement to conventional treatments.