Microdosing may be on the rise, but what are the ethical and illegal dilemmas of doing it for work?
Many Australians start their work day with a heavy dose of caffeine.
Sam, a 32-year-old filmmaker, sometimes prefers to take small doses of LSD instead.
“It’s like having a strong cup of coffee that lasts[s] All day without crashes,” he says.
Sam is not alone. in Australia and around the world Growing interest in people experimenting with tiny doses We prohibit the use of illegal drugs in hopes of increasing productivity, creativity and work focus.
practice known as microdosing.
Including regular small doses of psychedelic substances such as LSD and psilocybin.
Dr. Polito is one of the leading academics. Microdose studies in Australia.
“The frequency varies from person to person, but I tend to do microdosing several times a week,” says Dr. Polito. This Working Life of ABC RN.
“It’s a ballpark completely different from the experience that might be commonly associated with psychedelics. People are taking doses that are almost imperceptible.”
He says the average Australian microdosage may be “a little older than expected.”
Dr. Polito’s Studies published in 2019 We followed 98 people who practiced microdosing.
“The average age was in the mid-30s. They were well educated, about 75% had some form of higher education, and about 70% were working or studying,” he says. .
“The broad picture we got was of people who were microdosing. [as] A very ordinary member of society. ”
Dr. Polito Long term use unknownbecause more long-term research needs to be done in this area.
Sam, who also works as a university lecturer, says microdosing can put his work into a “deep flow-like state.”
Creativity, he says, is “a big part of my job” and something that’s “easier to access with LSD.”
“So instead of having to be distracted for six hours, [can] I dropped in for two hours on some really deep work and accomplished more than I could have otherwise. ”
Trina, 51, photographer and retailer. I also feel more productive at work since I started microdosing psilocybin six months ago.
“Productivity has improved [while microdosing] …I was working through ideas so quickly that there was this impatience to bring them to life,” she says.
“Something that might take me [about] Three hours to assemble and take pictures is probably half the time. ”
However, she is hesitant to tell anyone at work about it.
“People like I work with have a sense that they don’t really understand what it is and they probably think I’m on drugs,” she said. increase.
Trina also chooses to microdosage on days when she has less interaction with other co-workers and more time for herself.
“I don’t think so on the days I’m taking [having more time to myself], I can actually get quite scattered. Especially if I have people who come to me all the time because I have a hypersensitivity level.
“Come out of nowhere”
There aren’t many scientific studies yet on how effective microdosing is in improving productivity in the workplace.
So why is interest in psychedelics on the rise?
“The idea of microdosing came out of nowhere,” says Dr. Polito.
“It’s not really been around for a long time.”
In the 1970s, when psychedelics were gaining traction in the West, they were “very interesting to scientists, psychologists and psychiatrists, and a great deal of research was done in the beginning,” says Dr. Polito. increase.
But it all stopped when psychedelics became a banned substance 1973 USA.
“But in recent decades, people have started exploring the potential of these substances, primarily as a treatment for mental illness,” he says.
He says the first mention of microdosing was in James Fadiman’s 2011 book The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide. was
“There was just one small section where he talked about some reports of people he knew who took psychedelics in low doses this way and found them to be very beneficial,” he said. Dr Polito says.
And in 2015, the widely read Rolling Stone article I reported on microdosing in Silicon Valley.
Dr. Polito says the renewed interest in psychedelics has led to some interesting discoveries, but says more research is needed.
“When you look at them as treatments for depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc… research is just beginning, but it looks very promising.
“There are very clear signs that people are reporting that microdosing helps with things like attention and focus and creativity,” he says.
“However, the evidence as to whether pharmacological effects that cause these changes actually exist is less clear.”
complex experience
Microdosing doesn’t work for everyone.
“Many people say they have increased alertness and focus,” says Dr. Polito.
“But there are a few people who say it seems to have the absolute opposite effect, that they feel distracted or cluttered and that they don’t think it helps their work life in any way.”
More than 30 microdosing studies have recently been conducted around the world, with mixed results.
“Because it’s an illegal substance, it’s kind of hard to do microdosage studies. [are] There are many procedures that must be followed in order to be able to administer these substances to people,” he says.
“So it takes a lot of money, resources and effort to do very rigorous studies where people take a lot of doses and monitor their effects. There was really no research done…”
In some respects, Dr. Polito believes microdosing should be considered, just like any other kind of performance-enhancing substance.
“Maybe it’s something that at least some people can benefit from, but I think there are interesting ethical questions about whether it’s something we should encourage.”
“There is certainly a backlash within the psychedelic community over the idea of microdosing, turning psychedelics into something that is basically a tool of capitalism, performance enhancement. I think there are some really important factors.”
These are personal experiences only and are not intended as medical advice. You should see a qualified physician who knows your medical history.
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-22/microdosing-in-the-workplace-this-working-life/101760506 Microdosing may be on the rise, but what are the ethical and illegal dilemmas of doing it for work?
