Exploring the discourses around microdosing psychedelics within the r/microdosing online community
Ioana Pop, Erwin Gielens, Hannah Kottmann, Peter Achterberg
Social Science & Medicine February 22, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116702 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Online community r/microdosing subreddit |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Keywords | Sociocultural evolution Narrative Population Medicalization Online discussion Thematic analysis Public relations Qualitative research Social science Environmental health Disease World wide web |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | The majority of discussions in the r/microdosing subreddit revolved around "how to" topics, supporting the argument that such online communities serve as essential information hubs for disseminating practical knowledge about microdosing practices. |
Abstract
In the present contribution, we examine the practice of microdosing psychedelics (microdosing) through textual analysis of the content produced by a dedicated online community, the r/microdosing subreddit. We collected a comprehensive dataset of publicly available submissions from this community and used structural topic modelling to identify and analyse the prevalent topics within the discussions. Through our analysis, we identified 16 distinct topics that mapped into clinical, human enhancement, as well as self-medication narratives. Notably, we found that the majority of discussions revolved around "how to" topics, supporting our argument that such online communities serve as essential information hubs, facilitating the dissemination of practical knowledge related to microdosing practices among the general population. The identified impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the prevalence of discussion topics suggests that individuals within the online community may perceive microdosing primarily as a means of self-medication during times of heightened stress and uncertainty. Our findings contribute to the field of health sociology and psychedelic research by shedding light on the sociocultural factors influencing healthcare practices, including the role of online communities in facilitating processes of self-medicalization and self-medication.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook Active microdosing community | 2019 | Mixed-methods study | |
| Narrative identity, rationality, and microdosing classic psychedelics People who had microdosed classic psychedelics | 2019 | Qualitative study | n = 30 |
| Twenty percent better with 20 micrograms? A qualitative study of psychedelic microdosing self-rapports and discussions on YouTube YouTube videos and comments about psychedelic microdosing | 2019 | Qualitative study | |
| Accounting for Microdosing Classic Psychedelics People who had microdosed classic psychedelics | 2019 | Qualitative study | n = 30 |
| Experiences of microdosing psychedelics in an attempt to support wellbeing and mental health. People who microdose psychedelic drugs | 2023 | Qualitative study | n = 13 |
Citations in the library
Cites 19
- Acute Subjective and Behavioral Effects of Microdoses of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Human Volunteers Biological Psychiatry June 3, 2019
- The effects of microdose LSD on time perception: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Psychopharmacology November 26, 2018
- Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology May 30, 2019
- Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook Harm Reduction Journal July 9, 2019
- Mood and cognition after administration of low LSD doses in healthy volunteers: A placebo controlled dose-effect finding study European Neuropsychopharmacology October 17, 2020
and 14 more in the library