When most people hear the term psychedelic drugs, they probably visualize people at music festivals zonked out of their minds, watching the walls melt. But, a growing number of people are trying psychedelic drugs like psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) in tiny doses. Some have suggested that microdosing drugs like psilocybin or DMT may be helpful for mental health.
This Redemption Recovery article explores the trend of microdosing psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms and investigates the claims of therapeutic value.
What Kinds of Drugs Are People Microdosing and Why?
Most of the microdosing phenomenon is focused on psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, LSD and DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine). But other drugs that aren’t necessarily psychedelic are also being used. Examples of these non-psychedelic microdosing drugs include ketamine and MDMA.
The reasons why people microdose vary. Some are looking for a mild “head change” without the dramatic hallucinatory and delusion-inducing effects of a full-blown acid trip. But psychedelic microsdoing is also being marketed as a solution for everything from depression to PTSD. For this article, we’re focusing on those supposed therapeutic uses.
A List of Drugs People Microdose
- Psilocybin
- LSD (D-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
- DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine)
- Ketamine
Is Microdosing Psychedelic Drugs Safe?
There are inherent risks anytime someone ingests a psychedelic drug. First, these drugs are illegal, so there is no way to ensure quality or purity. What you think is LSD may be a combination of meth and fentanyl. LSD is complicated to synthesize. Methamphetamine and fentanyl analogs are a lot easier. The same goes for MDMA (molly) to a lesser degree. So, draw your own conclusions.
Assuming you get the correct drug or find a clinical source or study that will administer microdoses in a controlled way, the risks would be lessened somewhat but not eliminated. Even at lower doses, drugs like LSD and psilocybin may trigger psychosis, paranoia, or other serious, unwanted mental side effects.
Our position is that microdosing with psychedelic drugs is absolutely NOT recommended for anyone with a substance use disorder, whether they are in recovery or not.
Does Microdosing Help with Depression or Mental Health?
The answer is maybe. That might surprise you coming from an addiction treatment center, but it shouldn’t. We are an honest treatment center, first and foremost. Research into any therapeutic effects of microdosing LSD, psilocybin, and similar drugs is still very limited at this point.
Research on Microdosing Psilocybin for Depression
Data from several studies by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers suggest that many of the patients who were microdosed with psilocybin in a controlled clinical environment saw improvement in their depression symptoms.
The most recent study lasted twelve months and involved 27 participants. While this is encouraging, many more studies with larger groups over longer periods would be needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
The Bottom Line on Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics at Microdose Levels
We are many years away from microdosing for depression or any other mental health condition receiving FDA approval—if that even happens. We strongly discourage anyone in active addiction or recovery from microdosing any psychedelic drug, even under clinical supervision.
We believe the risks are too significant, and using psychedelic drugs (even microdosing) is antithetical to the principles of recovery.
Redemption Recovery: Addiction Treatment with Heart
At Redemption Recovery, we do more than simply help people put down drugs and alcohol for good. We believe in the transformative power of recovery. A recovery lifestyle can help you overcome fears and realize your dreams. Getting sober is only the start.
Recovery is also about ‘reprogramming’ your mind to move past unhelpful thought patterns, biases, and resentments that have kept you from becoming your best self. What we do here is help you get sober and begin that process of transformation.
Our program is a robust combination of proven addiction treatment methods, mental health treatment, and valuable life skills. We do more than simply help people put drugs and alcohol down. We give you the tools and knowledge you need for a successful, sober life.
Our innovative dual-diagnosis treatment makes us unique among Ohio addiction treatment centers. No matter how far you think you or your loved one has fallen, it’s never too late to turn it around with the right help. All it takes is a phone call. Make it today!
One call can change it all.
It’s time for Redemption: (419) 528-8007
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