Microdosing psychedelics: What, why, when, and how often? Insights from an international survey of people who use psychedelics

Abstract

Background The interest in microdosing psychedelics continues to grow within academic and recreational contexts. However, microdosing practices have changed over time, and warrants examination of use patterns within a large, global sample of consumers. Methods The Global Psychedelic Survey 2025 (GPS 2025) was an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey conducted from May 1–23, 2025. The survey was available in 19 languages and inquired about a wide range of topics surrounding psychedelic use. This manuscript focuses on the primary outcomes for the microdosing component of the survey, examining the substances consumed, dosing regimens employed, reasons for use, as well as the typical ‘set and setting’ while microdosing. Results In this sample, 5399 participants reported microdosing during their lifetime, of whom 69.8% (n = 3768) used a microdose within the past year. Psilocybin was the most commonly microdosed substance (n = 4377; 81.1%, 95% CI: 80.0%-82.1%), followed by LSD (n = 2136; 39.6%, 95% CI: 38.3%-40.9%). This was consistent across global regions. The ‘Fadiman protocol’ (i.e. one day on, two days off) was the most reported dosing regimen among regular microdosers (n = 1203; 24.3%, 95% CI: 23.1%-25.6%). While microdosing, respondents reported often spending time in nature (n = 3087; 58.9%), focusing inwards (n = 2977; 56.8%), or spending leisure time (n = 2253; 43%), demonstrating preliminary evidence supporting the integration of set and setting in the context of microdosing. Conclusions This study provides a snapshot of psychedelic microdosing practices using the largest psychedelic-specific global survey to date. These findings highlight real-world practices that can guide both clinical study designs and inform harm-reduction practices in naturalistic settings.