I was struck by the range of reasons people report microdosing psychedelics. These substances hold promise, he said, but they “need to be engaged with the same scientific rigor and thoroughness as any novel treatment.”The research simply has not proven that microdosing psychedelics is effective for treating mental health conditions. The same is true for other commonly used psychedelics, which are largely illegal and whose production and sale occur with little oversight. To the contrary, a JAMA Network Open study found that internet searches for psychedelic microdosing increased more than 13-fold between 2015 and 2023. A 2026 meta-analysis of 14 studies found no overall cognitive benefit from microdosing psychedelics.

Source: Washington Post February 06, 2026 03:32 UTC