This is part 2 of the series: Can microdosing psilocybin treat addiction?
Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance in the USA, i.e., considered a substance with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. It is therefore logical to wonder if taking psilocybin for addiction would simply switch one addiction to another or, worse yet, add another dependence to an already existing problem.
The short answer is: no. Psilocybin has low dependence potential compared with common substances of misuse. This is because its effects are primarily exerted on serotonin pathways and do not stimulate dopamine pathways directly in the way classic addictive substances do.
The inclusion of psilocybin as a Schedule I substance in the USA largely due to historical reasons and a specific political climate and context. This is explored in great detail in Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind.
Where compulsive use of psilocybin has been observed, it applies to hallucinogenic doses, and it does give reasons for concern. Frequent and escalating use of psychedelics has been found to precede serious psychiatric events.
When it comes to microdosing psilocybin, dose escalation can be considered a theoretical possibility. However, as of conducting background research for this article, no clinical reports documenting this pattern were identified.
Tolerance develops when psilocybin is microdosed frequently, which is why microdosing protocols include rest days and periodic longer breaks. It is important to honour these breaks to avoid the need for dose escalation.
While negative habits can form in any self‑medication routine, based on available sources, it has not emerged as an issue in the communities microdosing psilocybin.
See sources.
Do you have any questions about this text? Ask them in the comments below. They are answered by Lina B. Russell, an addiction recovery coach specialised in microdosing psilocybin.
Read next: What is the scientific evidence on microdosing psilocybin for addiction recovery?
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Can microdosing psilocybin treat addiction?
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