It is unclear if taking psychedelics in small doses constitutes substance abuse. Hallucinogenic substance abuse is defined as “A problematic pattern of hallucinogen (other than Phencyclidine) use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as manifested by two of the following, occurring within a 12-month period” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). By this standard, Microdosing LSD does not constitute substance abuse. Because it does not include using drugs excessively or unintentionally, microdosing psychedelics is not technically substance abuse. Nevertheless, psychedelics are still considered illegal narcotics in the US by authorities. Additionally, despite mounting evidence of their potential advantages in treating a variety of diseases, the majority of psychedelics are still outlawed globally. 

Risks and addiction involved :

It’s not apparent if LSD microdosing carries any particular hazards or if it raises the danger of addiction. However, other rodent research discovered that ingesting a small amount of LSD every other day for a few months led to negative side effects. Following the termination of the microdosing, the following side effects persisted for weeks :

• heightened hostility
• unkempt appearance
• hyperreactivity
• difficulty or incapacity to experience pleasure

Serotonin syndrome, which can result from drugs that stimulate serotonin receptors, has the following potential side effects :

• shaking
• skin quivering
• hyperthermia, a condition in which the body has trouble regulating its temperature
• LSD is generally not regarded by health professionals as addictive at low or recreational dosages. The drug also has no associations with obsessive use.

The practise of habitually ingesting very small doses of LSD over an extended period of time is known as microdosing. Anecdotal evidence and proponents of microdosing LSD claim that the method has health advantages, including enhancing mood and cognition and treating addiction and mental health concerns. Before scientists can draw any firm conclusions from these assertions, more research is necessary, and specialists have found cases of adverse effects that followed the cessation of microdosing. Hyperactivity and heightened aggression are some of them. Scientists must continue to investigate the effects of LSD in larger, more controlled studies before drawing definite conclusions on the potential risks and advantages of microdosing this chemical because research on it so far primarily relies on self-reporting and self-medication. These mixed-methods findings aid in distilling and framing the experiences provided by an active microdosing community as very promising areas for further scientific investigation.