Who’s behind this project?
Lina B. Russell is an addiction recovery coach who specialises in using microdosed psilocybin for addiction recovery in the framework of the MESMERIC method.
She holds a degree in Cognitive Science-Psychology from the University of Westminster, London, and is a member of the British Psychological Society.
She also has first-hand experience with substance use and addiction recovery.
Lina has kept a detailed log of her substance use since November 2023.
At the lowest point, Lina’s substance use pattern looked as follows:
JANUARY 2024
OVERALL MONTHLY USE
Total: 25 days of substance use
Cannabis: 19 days, of which 8 days mixed with alcohol
Alcohol only: 6 days
Sober: 6 days
QUANTITY AND DOSING
Cannabis:
3 doses doses per use day
∼5.7 g over the month
Alcohol: moderate to high amounts
FREQUENCY AND CLUSTERING
Use streaks: 14, 3 and 5-day streaks
Breaks: maximum 2 days sober between use streaks
USE PATTERN
Cannabis: out-of-control, binge-style use
Alcohol: used both socially and alone, often at high intensity
Combined use: cannabis frequently paired with alcohol
In April 2024, Lina started microdosing psilocybin as an ally on her recovery path.
Lina has chosen a gradual‑reduction strategy and set for herself non-abstinent recovery goals.
She developed a framework to safeguard herself from self-deception — later formalised as the MESMERIC method — and combined it with other practices to support her recovery.
Lina’s progress looks as follows:
JUNE 2024
OVERALL MONTHLY USE
Total: 14 days of substance use
Cannabis: 9 days, of which 3 days mixed with alcohol
Alcohol only: 5 days
Sober: 16 days
QUANTITY AND DOSING
Cannabis:
1-2 doses per use day
∼1.4 g over the month
Alcohol: moderate, on social occasions
FREQUENCY AND CLUSTERING
Use streaks: 2-3 day streaks
Breaks: 2-3 days sober between use streaks
USE PATTERN
Cannabis: based on resolve, measured
Alcohol: social drinking-level, moderate
Combined use: cannabis sometimes paired with alcohol
And a few months later:
OCTOBER 2024
OVERALL MONTHLY USE
Total: 8 days of substance use
Cannabis: 8 days, of which 2 days mixed with alcohol
Alcohol only: 1 day
Sober: 22 days
QUANTITY AND DOSING
Cannabis:
1-2 doses per use day (and once 3 doses)
∼1.4 g over the month
Alcohol: rare, on social occasions
FREQUENCY AND CLUSTERING
Use streaks: three 2-day streaks, and once 1-day use
Breaks: 4-5 days sober between use streaks
USE PATTERN
Cannabis: based on resolve, moderate
Alcohol: social drinking-level, negligible
Combined use: cannabis sometimes paired with alcohol
In addition, Lina keeps active with regular exercise, is more present to her child, productive and effective on working days and resting at the weekends, and more joyful and empowered than ever before – though she suspects she will always be a work in progress.
Having been fortunate to find resources and methods that supported her own recovery, Lina now shares what she has learned to support others. She does this by:
- Making the MESMERIC method available online and as a published resource,
- Providing personalised addiction recovery coaching both online and in‑person.
This is Lina’s story.
Questions or comments?
Drop a line below or send a message.
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