Psilocybin microdosing in the United States with Michelle PriestPsilocybin microdosing in the United States with Michelle Priest
Addiction Audio
Dr Elle Wadsworth talks with Dr Michelle Priest about her nationally representative study on psilocybin microdosing in US adults, covering prevalence, motives and policy context. The discussion highlights wellness-focused reasons for microdosing, gaps in clinical evidence and key questions for future research and public health.
16:50•24 Apr 2026
Psilocybin Microdosing, Wellness and Policy with Dr Michelle Priest
Episode Overview
- Microdosing is defined as taking a small fraction of a full psilocybin dose, often with little or no noticeable change in mental state.
- In a nationally representative US survey, 46.9% of adults who used psilocybin in the past year reported microdosing the last time they used it.
- People who microdosed were more likely to report using psilocybin for physical and mental health reasons and less likely to report using it for fun or pleasure.
- Psilocybin remains illegal at the federal level in the US, but some cities have deprioritised enforcement and states such as Oregon, Colorado and New Mexico are developing supervised or medical programmes.
- The study reports self-reported intentions and does not measure clinical outcomes, highlighting the need for further research on benefits, risks and product safety.
“Microdosing is common among US adults who use psilocybin, and improving physical and mental health are the top motivations for microdosing psilocybin among US adults.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation on Addiction Audio takes a slightly different angle, looking at psychedelics through the lens of data, policy and public health. Hosted by Dr Elle Wadsworth, the episode features Dr Michelle Priest, a research project specialist at RAND in the US.
Together, they chat through her team’s study on psilocybin microdosing using the 2023 RAND Psychedelics Survey – the first probability-based, nationally representative survey to report on microdosing in US adults. Right from the start, Dr Priest clears up what microdosing actually is: taking around 5–10% of a full psychedelic dose, with the aim of feeling “very subtle or even no changes to your mental state.” From there, you’ll hear how microdosing has become surprisingly common among people who use psilocybin.
Among US adults who had used psilocybin in the past year, nearly half – 46.9% – said they microdosed the last time they used it. The conversation digs into why people are doing this. Compared with those taking a full dose, microdosers were more likely to say they used psilocybin to improve physical and mental health, and less likely to say they used it “for fun or pleasure”.
As Dr Priest sums it up: “Microdosing is common among US adults who use psilocybin, and improving physical and mental health are the top motivations for microdosing psilocybin among US adults.” You’ll also hear a clear run-through of the changing US policy landscape, from local deprioritisation of enforcement to supervised psilocybin programmes in Oregon, Colorado and New Mexico, plus future research plans on dosing patterns and product safety.
If you’re curious about how psychedelics, wellness claims and public policy intersect – whether as a clinician, researcher, or someone with lived experience – this episode gives you plenty to think about. How might rising interest in microdosing affect the way we talk about drugs, harm reduction and recovery?
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