Towards a dynamic processual model of psychedelic microdosing.

People who microdose psychedelics often follow a multi-stage journey that involves becoming aware of the practice, researching and reframing risks, securing a reliable supply, experimenting with doses and schedules, stabilizing a routine that feels right for them, and eventually expanding their sense of connection to themselves and others. Based on interviews with 23 current, prospective, or past microdosers, the research identifies these phases as non-linear and varied across individuals. The process requires considerable effort to manage stigma, maintain supply, and document effects. This phased model offers a way to understand drug-use patterns that do not fit conventional addiction-focused frameworks.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Existing research highlights an increase in psychedelic microdosing, particularly for therapeutic purposes and as a means for self-enhancement. However, we know little about the different routes into and out of microdosing, particularly by those who do not consume other illicit substances, and of the processes involved in the development, maintenance, and cessation of practices. Drawing upon a trans-national interview-based study of 23 participants actively microdosing (n = 19), about to start (n = 3), or who were past users (n = 1), we develop a phased-based analysis of different user pathways. We identify key phases as: 'Awareness/Discovery', where participants became aware of microdosing; 'Research/Reframing', where they researched access, techniques, and undertook 'stigma work' to reframe risks; 'Access/Supply' where they sought reliable and safe sources of psychedelics and cultivated attitudes/practices/substances for longer-term use; 'Experimentation/Differentiation' where participants altered dosing levels/schedules and, inter-relatedly, differentiated 'effects' and 'benefits'; 'Independence/Incorporation' where they stabilised practices into patterns 'right for them'; and 'Expansion/Advocacy' where microdosing was linked to greater inter- and intrapersonal 'expansiveness'. Pathways in and out of microdosing are multilinear and differentiated. Nonetheless, a dynamic processual approach helps highlight the overall structure of changes involved which, we find, can entail a shift towards greater temporal and relational 'expansiveness', greater independence, and more incorporated practices. These shifts necessitated considerable 'work' variously to negate stigma, maintain supply, determine dose, document shifts, and other kinds of material-symbolic 'investment'. We also show the significance of processual/phased-based models beyond psychedelics to better understand drug-use journeys and temporalities which confound conventional dependency-focused paradigms.