Microdosing means taking small amounts of a psychedelic, often LSD or psilocybin, on a regular schedule, usually without a full psychedelic experience. People report benefits including better mood, focus, and creativity. The evidence from controlled trials is less encouraging than the testimonials. This article reviews research and does not recommend microdosing or provide guidance on […]
Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and amphetamine-based drugs (Adderall, Vyvanse) are among the best-studied psychiatric treatments. They are also controlled substances with a risk of misuse. Understanding both sides helps people use them well. How they help Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involves difficulties with attention, impulse control, and sometimes hyperactivity. Stimulants increase dopamine and […]
Canada has had a medical cannabis system since before legalization in 2018. Today people can buy legal cannabis at retail shops, but a medical authorization still exists and offers some advantages. This article explains what the evidence supports for medical use and how the system works. Where the evidence is strongest Chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. Cannabinoid […]
Oregon and Colorado created state-regulated psilocybin programs that operate outside the federal drug approval system. In effect, they are large natural experiments. In August 2026, researchers published the first real-world safety and outcome data from Oregon. The programs Oregon. Voters approved psilocybin services in 2020, and licensed access for adults aged 21 and over began in […]
Most of the world is still waiting for regulators to approve psychedelic-assisted therapy. Australia did something different. On July 1, 2023, it became the first country to reclassify MDMA and psilocybin so that specially authorized psychiatrists could prescribe them: MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Three years on, what has […]
LSD is one of the most potent psychoactive substances known. It produces vivid changes in perception, thought, and emotion that last many hours. Research in anxiety and other conditions is under way (Article 15), but this article is about the other side: what people should understand about the risks outside a clinic. What it does […]
MDMA, sold as “ecstasy” or “molly,” is known for feelings of closeness, energy, and empathy. In clinical research it is being studied for PTSD (Articles 11 and 22). In nightlife settings it is used recreationally, and the street product is unpredictable. This article explains how it affects the body and the main risks. How it […]
Ketamine is both a hospital medicine and a street drug. In medical settings it is an anesthetic and a treatment for depression (see Article 13). Outside medicine it is used for its dissociative effects, which can feel like detachment from body and surroundings. This article covers what people should know about the risks. What it […]
Cannabis has been legal for adults in Canada since 2018, which means most people who use it buy a regulated, labelled product. Legal does not mean risk-free. This article covers what THC does, who is most at risk, and the lower-risk use guidance public-health researchers have published. What THC does THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main […]
LSD, the best known of the classic psychedelics, spent decades on the research sidelines after being banned in the 1960s. Recently, controlled trials have begun to test it for anxiety. The data are early, but they are getting attention. Background LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) acts mainly on serotonin receptors and produces long-lasting effects, typically around […]