Does magic mushroom microdosing help people with mental health problems? Science is trying to figure this out

Stan, 35, works as a psychotherapist in Toronto and sometimes struggles with mental health issues. He credits psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in magic mushrooms, with helping him turn his life around. "I found myself in this life space in December 2020." he explains. "It was a very dark space. So I was thinking about suicide."

Stan says he's tried various combinations, but none have really worked until he reaches magic mushrooms — which are illegal in Canada without a special permit. "I'm not sure I'd still be alive if I hadn't been microdosing," Stan says. He has been microdosing psilocybin for three years.

He says he is aware of the dangers of using psilocybin. "I know a lot of people, especially people my age, I just think it's a cool thing." He says that a microdose of psilocybin allows him to cope with his problems. Stan's experience with microdose psilocybin is a powerful personal story.

- In Petranker's 8th week experiment, there are 20 participants and each of them is dealing with a clinical injury. Each week, they receive a microdose of psilocybin, or a stimulant drug, then Petranecker and his team put him through a series of tests to see if their mood improves.
It's very trendy right now and people are using it, says Zeena Bidas, VP of Principal Research. "So now everybody thinks that microdosing helps, but there's really no research, no controlled research," Bidas says.
- Due to the analysis of the experiment, Petranker does not know who took the psilocybin and who received the stimulant drug. And while it doesn't have solid findings yet, it does have preliminary observations.
"I've seen them get better," he says. "A lot of people have gotten better." "Some people have trouble even going to bed or even having a job. And by the end of the trial, they're no longer in the condition for a major injury. So it's a very serious change," he continues. With this Petranker warns that people should not get too excited

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