Psychedelic microdosing

Psychedelic microdosing is the practice of using sub-threshold doses (microdoses) of serotonergic psychedelic drugs in an attempt to improve creativity, boost physical energy level, promote emotional balance, increase performance on problems-solving tasks and to treat anxiety, depression and addiction.[1][2] The practice of microdosing has become more widespread in the 21st century with more people claiming long-term benefits from the practice.[3][4]

Techniques

Five doses of LSD. 1/20 to 1/10 of a recreational dose is considered microdosing.[5]

The two most common psychedelic drugs used in microdosing are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin (psychoactive mushrooms).[5][6] Other psychedelics that have been used for microdosing include 1P-LSD, mescaline, 4-HO-MET, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine, 2C-H, 2C-D, 2C-E and lysergic acid amide.[5] A microdose is usually 1/20 to 1/10 of an active dose of a psychedelic drug.[6][7] Safety considerations in microdosing with psilocybin include activation of serotonin receptors.

Prevalence and demographics

Both gender and education have an effect on the prevalence of microdosing. An online survey found that out of 2,437 individuals, 13% had previously practiced microdosing and 4% were currently microdosing.[8] Females (n=100) were about half as likely as males (n=188) to report microdosing.[8]  The average age of these individuals who had previous microdosing experience, both male and female, was 33.26.[8] Education and income was highly correlated with microdosing experience.[8] Participants who reported microdosing were more likely to have lower income levels (<$50,000) and lower levels of education.[8] No particular type of employment was associated with microdosing.[8]

Another anonymous online survey drew a sample of microdosers from the online forum Reddit.[9] The survey was primarily targeted at current or past users to examine demographics, practice, and mental health comorbidity.[9] Microdosers and non-microdosers showed no statistical difference in terms of age, sexual orientation, social class, or highest completed formal education.[9] Significant differences were found in gender and religious affiliation with microdosers more likely to be male and reporting lower rates of religious affiliation.[9] The majority of microdosers reported the use of LSD or psilocybin as their substance of choice and followed a one-day-on, two-days-off schedule.[9] Despite no significant differences in psychiatric history, microdosers were less likely to report a history of anxiety or substance use disorder.[9] Statistical analyses showed that users were about five times more likely to report recent substance use, excluding caffeine, alcohol, and prescription medications, compared to non-microdosers.[9]

Motivation

Research that examines the motives of users is narrative or survey-based. People’s reasons for microdosing are both physically and psychologically oriented. A study investigated the motives for microdosing with psychedelics in 1,116 users through an online questionnaire.[10] Common reasons given by respondents were performance enhancement, mood enhancement, symptom relief, and curiosity.[10] Almost half of respondents claimed that they microdosed to go to work.[10]

Another study relied on data collected from interviews with thirty people who had previously microdosed.[4] Responses from users emphasized their role as conventional citizens, distancing themselves from traditional drug users.[4]  Motivations were similar to those of the previous study; reasons for microdosing included mood enhancement, greater productivity, and increase in sociability.[4] Although this sample is not representative of the population of users, the results still provide insights about the motivation to microdose.[4]

Research

Since research on the topic of microdosing with psychedelics is fairly new, there are sure to be more studies focusing on double-blind, randomized experiments in order to determine if these doses have any benefit to normal functioning as proclaimed by some users.[4][5][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fadiman J (January 2016). "Microdose research: without approvals, control groups, double blinds, staff or funding". Psychedelic Press. XV.
  2. ↑ Brodwin E (30 January 2017). "The truth about 'microdosing,' which involves taking tiny amounts of psychedelics like LSD". Business Insider. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  3. ↑ Dahl H (7 July 2015). "A Brief History of LSD in the Twenty-First Century". Psychedelic Press UK. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Webb M, Copes H, Hendricks PS (August 2019). "Narrative identity, rationality, and microdosing classic psychedelics". The International Journal on Drug Policy. 70: 33–39. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.04.013. PMID 31071597. S2CID 149445841.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Polito V, Stevenson RJ (2019-02-06). "A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics". PLOS ONE. 14 (2): e0211023. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1411023P. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211023. PMC 6364961. PMID 30726251.
  6. 1 2 Preller KH (November 2019). "The Effects of Low Doses of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Humans: Demystifying the Microdosing of Psychedelics". Biological Psychiatry. 86 (10): 736–737. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.08.021. PMID 31648681. S2CID 204800273.
  7. ↑ Kuypers KP (2020-01-01). "The therapeutic potential of microdosing psychedelics in depression". Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 10: 2045125320950567. doi:10.1177/2045125320950567. PMC 7457631. PMID 32922736.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cameron LP, Nazarian A, Olson DE (January 2020). "Psychedelic Microdosing: Prevalence and Subjective Effects". Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 52 (2): 113–122. doi:10.1080/02791072.2020.1718250. PMC 7282936. PMID 31973684.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rosenbaum D, Weissman C, Anderson T, Petranker R, Dinh-Williams LA, Hui K, Hapke E (June 2020). "Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities". Journal of Psychopharmacology. 34 (6): 612–622. doi:10.1177/0269881120908004. PMID 32108529. S2CID 211556532.
  10. 1 2 3 Hutten NR, Mason NL, Dolder PC, Kuypers KP (July 2019). "Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users". The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 22 (7): 426–434. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyz029. PMC 6600464. PMID 31152167.
  11. ↑ Anderson T, Petranker R, Christopher A, Rosenbaum D, Weissman C, Dinh-Williams LA, et al. (July 2019). "Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook". Harm Reduction Journal. 16 (1): 43. doi:10.1186/s12954-019-0308-4. PMC 6617883. PMID 31288862.
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