Exploring the discourses around microdosing psychedelics within the r/microdosing online community
Social Science & Medicine February 22, 2024 Ioana Pop, Erwin Gielens, Hannah Kottmann et al. 4 citations
Online discussions about microdosing psychedelics on the r/microdosing subreddit center on practical "how to" topics, serving as essential information hubs for the general population. Analysis of public submissions using structural topic modeling identified 16 distinct topics that fall into clinical, human enhancement, and self-medication narratives. The Covid-19 pandemic influenced the prevalence of discussion topics, suggesting that individuals may turn to microdosing as a means of self-medication during heightened stress and uncertainty. These findings highlight the role of online communities in facilitating self-medicalization and self-medication practices.