Cited by 115Psychedelics and Drug StudiesNeuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical InnovationsForensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis

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Psychedelic Microdosing: A Subreddit Analysis

Lea, Toby, Amada, Nicole, Jungaberle, Henrik·2020·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

DOI 10.1080/02791072.2019.1683260

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Abstract

Self-administration of very low doses of psychedelic drugs to improve mental health and wellbeing and enhance cognitive function, known as microdosing, has received recent media attention, but little research has been conducted. We conducted a content analysis of discussions about microdosing from the online forum Reddit. We examined motivations, dosing practices, and perceived benefits and limitations of microdosing. Motivations included self-management of mental health issues, improvement of psychosocial wellbeing, and cognitive enhancement. Self-reported benefits included cognitive and creative enhancement, reduced depression and anxiety, enhanced self-insight and mindfulness, improved mood and attitude toward life, improved habits and health behaviors, and improved social interactions and interpersonal connections. Perceived limitations included issues related to dosing, adverse physical effects, taking illegal substances, limited or no mental health or cognitive improvement, increased anxiety, unpleasant "off" days, only short-term benefits, and concerns about dependence and drug-related risks. Standard doses of psychedelic drugs provided in therapeutic settings have potential as novel treatments for some mental health conditions, but clinical research is needed to understand if this is also the case for microdosing. In the meantime, harm reduction resources should be developed and made available to provide the best available information on the safer use of self-administered psychedelics.

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Method
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McNamara, R. A. (2024) · KZfSS Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie · doi:10.1007/s11577-024-00937-3 · Cited by 6
“…levels of creativity through divergent thinking (Preller and Vol-lenweider 2018; Abraham et al. 2012), leading to novel problem-solving solutions and contributing to the recent rise in microdosing protocols among high-performing creative professionals (Lea et al. 2019; Polito and Stevenson 2019).”
Quantifying the Pollan Effect: Investigating the Impact of Emerging Psychiatric Interventions on Online Mental Health Discourse
Pendse, S. R., Kumar, N., & Choudhury, M. D. (2024) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3613904.3642477 · Cited by 8
“Similarly building on data from online conversations, Lea et al. [78] qualitatively analyze language around the self-administration of psychedelic drugs (including PCMs) in small amounts on various psychedelic-related subreddits, analyzing the index post of 174 threads across 148 Reddit users.”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Between enhancement and risk: A critical review of psychedelic microdosing
Totomanova, I., Haijen, E. C. H. M., Hurks, P. P. M., Ramaekers, J. G., & Kuypers, K. P. C. (2025) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2025.102129 · Cited by 6
Unlocking the self: Can microdosing psychedelics make one feel more authentic?
Pop, I. A., & Dinkelacker, J. (2023) · Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · doi:10.1177/14550725231175353 · Cited by 6
“In addition to these studies, observational research using self-reported data also provides support for the idea that microdosing results in an increase in positive mood and decrease in negative mood (Lea et al., 2020; Ona & Bouso, 2020).”
Result
Psychedelics as a tool for a more connected and sustainable world? Considering the importance of rituals, boundaries, and commitment.
Anderson, K., Elf, P., & Isham, A. (2024) · International Journal of Drug Policy · doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104571 · Cited by 6
Examining the potential of psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT as therapeutics for traumatic brain injury
Plummer, Z., Allen, J., Brand, J., Mayo, L. M., Shultz, S. R., & Christie, B. R. (2025) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111448 · Cited by 6
Psychedelic Drug Microdosing Practices: A Qualitative Online Exploration
Miller, E., Bojovic, V., Maddren, O., Rao, P., Adesina, D., Petrenko, A., & Ponton, R. (2024) · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · doi:10.1080/02791072.2024.2304554 · Cited by 5
“Other methods, namely, cutting tabs or using low-strength tabs, were reported (Lea et al. 2020a; Lea, Amada, and Jungaberle 2020).”
Influential
Qualitative content analysis of expectations in participants with depression about to begin LSD microdosing treatment: Identifying the need for psychedelic expectancy measures
Donegan, C. J., Daldegan‐Bueno, D., Noorani, T. N., Sumner, R. L., Forsyth, A., Evans, W., Smith, T., Hoeh, N. R., Sundram, F., Menkes, D. B., et al. (2025) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110670 · Cited by 4
LSD microdosing for major depressive disorder: Mood and pharmacokinetic outcomes from a Phase 2a trial
Daldegan‐Bueno, D., Donegan, C. J., Sumner, R. L., Forsyth, A., Jeong, S. H., Evans, W. J., Alshakhouri, M., Murphy, R. J., Reynolds, L., Hoeh, N. R., et al. (2026) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2026.111645 · Cited by 4
Trip-killers: a concerning practice associated with psychedelic drug use
Yates, G. P., & Melon, E. (2023) · Emergency Medicine Journal · doi:10.1136/emermed-2023-213377 · Cited by 4
Exploring the discourses around microdosing psychedelics within the r/microdosing online community
Pop, I. A., Gielens, E., Kottmann, H., & Achterberg, P. (2024) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116702 · Cited by 4
Salience, sensemaking, and setting in psilocybin microdosing: Methodological lessons and preliminary findings of a mixed method qualitative study
Oblak, A., Hudnik, L. K., Levačić, A., Elersič, K., Pregelj, P., & Bon, J. (2024) · Philosophical Psychology · doi:10.1080/09515089.2024.2393690 · Cited by 5
“Earlier qualitative work on microdosing, however, demonstrated that in naturalistic settings, people often take above-threshold doses (Anderson et al., 2019; Johnstad, 2018; Lea et al., 2020).”
Microdosing Psychedelics as a Promising New Pharmacotherapeutic
Kuypers, K. P. C. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-62351-7_18 · Cited by 4
Microdosing as a response to the meaning crisisPreprint
Petranker, R., Kim, J. J., & Anderson, T. (2020) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/2jnkf · Cited by 4
Psilocybin microdosing in the United States: Insights from a nationally representative survey
Priest, M., Kilmer, B., Ramchand, R., & Atshan, S. (2026) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.70368 · Cited by 3
Towards a dynamic processual model of psychedelic microdosing
Hughes, J., Stuart-Bennett, J. G., Dunning, M., & Farrimond, H. R. (2024) · International Journal of Drug Policy · doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104691 · Cited by 3
Characterizing psilocybin as an antidepressant for adolescence in male and female ratsPreprint
García‐Cabrerizo, R., Beruete-Fresnillo, I., & García-Fuster, M. J. (2024) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2024.12.20.629571 · Cited by 3
“I don’t wanna die, but my brain insists that I should”: a big qualitative data approach to the lived experiences of suicidal thoughts
Marchionatti, L. E., Amaral, R. R., Barcellos, C., Duarte, S., Campello, A. C., Virtuoso, E., & Magalhães, P. V. D. S. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1420287 · Cited by 5
“The anonymity of Reddit further facilitates the reporting of sensitive topics in a well-secured environment that does not require facing a researcher (Sowles et al., 2018; Lea et al., 2020; Belcher et al., 2023).”
Background
Exploring Harm Reduction Advice for Prescription Stimulants on Reddit
Johnson, B., Thomas, N., & Salom, C. (2025) · Contemporary Drug Problems · doi:10.1177/00914509251395274 · Cited by 2
“For example, microdosing threads centered on perceived bene ﬁ ts of use while also ﬂ agging adverse effects and dependence concerns, with discussion heavily oriented toward “ how-to ” advice (Lea et al., 2020; Pop et al., 2024).”
‘Remember, You Are Not Alone’: A Qualitative Internet‐Mediated Study of Anxiety Among Adolescents on Reddit
Kaluževičiūtė, G., Moreton, J., & Jackson, J. E. (2025) · International Journal of Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/inm.70183 · Cited by 2
Exploring a Decade of Microdosing Research: A Qualitative Meta-synthesis of Microdosing Literature
Beaton, B. (2026) · Deviant Behavior · doi:10.1080/01639625.2026.2624690 · Cited by 2
“Several studies, including those by Anderson et al. (2019), Hutten et al. (2019), Lea, Amada, and Jungaberle (2020), Petranker, Kim, and Anderson (2022), and Jacobs, Banbury, and Lusher (2024), emphasize the need for placebo-controlled clinical trials to determine whether the benefits of…”
Self‐reported experiences and perspectives on using psychedelics to manage opioid use among participants of two Reddit communities
Krawczyk, N., Miller, M. J., Gu, E. Y., Irvine, N. M., Ramirez, E., Santaella-Tenorio, J., Lippincott, T., Bogenschutz, M. P., Bunting, A. M., & Meacham, M. C. (2025) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.16767 · Cited by 2
Societal perspectives on psychedelics use in clinical context: Development of Concerns and Openness towards Psychedelic Scale (COPS)
Holas, P., Kamińska, J., & Zajenkowski, M. (2025) · Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/19585969.2025.2470426 · Cited by 2
“…(anderson et al. 2019). this shift suggests a growing public interest in novel therapeutic options amidst a fast-paced, overwhelming world (lea et al. 2020). to effectively investigate societal attitudes towards psychedelics, appropriate tools are essential. existing studies have…”
Personas of plagiarism: The construction of the ‘plagiarist’ in Australian university subreddits
Anson, D. W. J. (2022) · Linguistics and Education · doi:10.1016/j.linged.2022.101050 · Cited by 2
Decision-Making around Psychedelics for Depression and Anxiety: a Model Based on Online Discussions
Kryszajtys, D. T., Bender, J. L., Rush, B. R., & Strıke, C. (2023) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-023-01148-1 · Cited by 2
“…approaches (e.g., dose, substances, schedules) reported in surveys (Polito & Liknaitzky, 2022; Rootman et al., 2021) and why survey findings show that people replace conventional options with psych-edelics and find increased satisfaction (Lea et al., 2019, 2020; Mason & Kuypers, 2018).”
Unirse para resistir: Internet como espacio de desestigmatización de la no parentalidad en la India
Sadeghi, R. (2023) · Enfances, Familles, Générations · doi:10.7202/1111238ar · Cited by 1
Psychological Antecedents to the Effects of Psychedelics on Workplace Productivity: Interview Evidence of a Naturalistic SettingPreprint
Ferenstein, G. (2021) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3910688 · Cited by 2
The emerging science of microdosing: A systematic review of research on low dose psychedelics (1955 – 2021)Preprint
Polito, V., & Liknaitzky, P. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/edhqz · Cited by 2
“…Rolo (1965); Bershad et al., (2019, 2020); Preller (2019); Family et al. (2020); Greiner et al. (1958); Holze et al. (2021); Isbell et al. (1956). h Strassman et al. (1994). i Riba et al. (2015). j Lea (2020b). k Shulgin (1976). l Goutarel et al. (1993). m Forsyth et al. (2016); Glue et al. (2015).”
A qualitative content analysis of cannabis-related discussions on Reddit during the COVID-19 pandemic
Reygaerts, H., Smith, S., Renner, L. M., Ruiz, Y., & Schwab-Reese, L. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0304336 · Cited by 1
University Students’ Motives for Psilocybin Use: A Mixed-Methods Analysis
Frinton, S., & Robinson, J. O. (2025) · Journal of Drug Issues · doi:10.1177/00220426251338187 · Cited by 1
“Some participants report discontinuing their psychiatric medication to try microdosing without consulting a mental health professional, which may lead to dangerous outcomes and increase the risk of medication withdrawal, suicidal ideation, and relapse of psychiatric symptoms (Lea et al., 2020b).”
Influential
Daily self-assessment within a regimen of microdosing indicates enhanced psychological functioning on microdosing days relative to non-microdosing days
Pierre, M. S., Argento, E., Cates, J., Kryskow, P., Harvey, K., Stamets, P. E., Santos-Brault, E., Paschall, S. A., Kuypers, K. P. C., Rootman, J. M., et al. (2025) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-025-06913-9 · Cited by 1
“…studies have demonstrated dose-dependent changes (Polito and Liknaitzky 2022), and surveys and qualitative research have documented generally positive outcomes, including improved mood, energy, and cognition (Anderson et al. 2019; Johns-tad 2018; Lea et al. 2020b; Webb et al. 2019).”
Making sense of desperation for treatment in decisions to use psychedelics for depression and anxiety: A qualitative Subreddit study anticipating clinical challenges.
Kryszajtys, D. T., Strike, C., Rush, B., & Bender, J. L. (2026) · General Hospital Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2026.02.002 · Cited by 1
Microdosing psilocybin for major depressive disorder: study protocol for a phase II double-blind placebo-controlled randomised partial crossover trial
Beidas, Z., Ragnhildstveit, A., Blackman, A., Anderson, T., Fewster, E. C., Syed, O. A., Sobolenko, V., Kanca, I. K., Jaglinska, M., Son, T., et al. (2026) · BJPsych Open · doi:10.1192/bjo.2025.10968 · Cited by 1
As Above, So Below? A Qualitative Content Analysis of Reddit and Dread User Opinions of Illicit Substance
Partin, R. D., & Beaton, B. (2026) · Deviant Behavior · doi:10.1080/01639625.2026.2685873 · Cited by 1
Psilocybin as a healer
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Examining Symptoms of Stimulant Misuse and Community Support Among Members of a Recovery-Oriented Online Community
Kasson, E. M., Filiatreau, L. M., Davet, K., Kaiser, N., Sirko, G., Bekele, M., & Cavazos‐Rehg, P. A. (2023) · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · doi:10.1080/02791072.2023.2228781 · Cited by 1
“…analysis studies on Reddit, and sample sizes of approximately 100 “Top” posts and associated comments (e.g., discussion threads) have been found to be representative of main topics of discussion within these communities (Lea, Amada, and Jungaberle 2020; Slemon et al. 2021; Sowles et al. 2017).”
Method
Microdosing psychedelics: The segregation of spiritual and scientific narratives within the r/microdosing online community
Pop, I. A., Gielens, E., & Kottmann, H. (2023) · Journal of Psychedelic Studies · doi:10.1556/2054.2023.00260 · Cited by 1
Do undergraduates’ views of psychedelics relate to the context for psychedelic use?
Petrovitch, D., Allen, J. V., Mitchell, S. M., & Littlefield, A. K. (2025) · Drug Science Policy and Law · doi:10.1177/20503245241308747 · Cited by 2
“In addition to cognitive-performance-related motives (e.g., focus, creativity), microdosers attempt to manage psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety) and improve wellbeing (e.g., mindfulness; Lea et al., 2020a, 2020b).”
Psychedelic microdosing hits a rough patch in clinical trials
Plackett, B. (2022) · Nature · doi:10.1038/d41586-022-02876-5
Historical overview
Thompson, C. W., & Husain, M. I. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/med/9780192863607.003.0001
Nano Forensic Testing of Illicit Drugs
Riaz, A., Zareef, I., Munawar, A., Rakha, A., & Shad, N. A. (2023) · Advances in digital crime, forensics, and cyber terrorism book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-8325-1.ch011
Experiencias psicodélicas: fenomenología, potenciales terapéuticos y modelos explicativos
Chernoff, T., Kliger, B., & Venturini, D. H. (2023) · Vertex Revista Argentina de Psiquiatría · doi:10.53680/vertex.v34i160.463

Authors: Lea, T., Amada, N., & Jungaberle, H.
Affiliations: UNSW Sydney (AU)
The Graduate Center, CUNY (US)
MIND European Foundation for Psychedelic Science, Berlin, Germany
Corresponding author: Lea, Toby
ORCID: Lea, Toby
Amada, Nicole
Jungaberle, Henrik
Venue: Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2019-10-24
Volume: 52
Issue: 2
Pages: 101-112
ISSN: 0279-1072 (ISSN-L)
2159-9777
DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1683260
OpenAlex: W2981686921
Cited by: 115
References: 33
Citations by year: 2026: 8 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 1
FWCI: 11.09
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (NA)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
Keywords: psychedelic microdosing, Reddit discussions, online forums, mental health self-management, cognitive enhancement, psychosocial well-being, anxiety and depression, harm reduction, drug addiction
MeSH terms: Self-Management, Psychosocial Functioning, Adult, Behavioral Symptoms, Cognition, Hallucinogens, Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Psilocybin, Self Administration, Qualitative Research, Social Media

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Psychedelic Microdosing: A Subreddit Analysis

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