“It Fueled the Fire to Who I Am Now”: Exploring Motivations for Microdosing Psychedelics

The emergence of microdosing introduced a novel approach to consuming classic psychedelic substances, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin mushrooms, in ways previously unconventional. Whereas traditional illicit substance use often seeks euphoric experiences, microdosing deliberately avoids such effects in favor of perceived self-enhancing benefits. Increasingly common in contemporary society, microdosing has shown potential therapeutic value in alleviating conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress. The current study’s findings help explain why microdosing has become one of the fastest-growing trends in illicit substance use, while also distinguishing it sharply from other forms of such use. Interviews with those who actively microdose psychedelics provide key insights as to the various motivations for microdosing psychedelics that range from bettering one’s general wellbeing to assisting in the abstinence of other harmful substances characterized to be “worse” by participants.