Psilocybin Use and Microdosing is Surging in the United States

In recent years, psychedelics like psilocybin have shifted from fringe subcultures into more mainstream conversations about mental health, wellness, and even creativity. Much of this interest has centered on microdosing, which is the practice of taking very small amounts of a psychedelic substance to achieve subtle psychological or cognitive effects without intense perceptual change. A groundbreaking new survey from RAND provides the most comprehensive, nationally representative picture yet of how many Americans are actually using these substances and what patterns of use look like in 2025. Let’s dive in.

The 2025 RAND Psychedelic Use Survey Explained

The U.S. Psychedelic Use and Microdosing in 2025 report stems from data collected in September 2025 from a probability-based, nationally representative sample of over 10,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. This scale and methodology gave researchers unprecedented insight into patterns of use across a wide range of psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and more.

Importantly, this is one of the first surveys to systematically quantify microdosing behavior at the national level, providing data far beyond anecdote or social-media chatter.

Psilocybin: The Most Commonly Used Psychedelic

Among all psychedelics asked about in the survey, psilocybin, commonly known as “magic mushrooms,” stood out as the most frequently used substance in the past year. An estimated 4.26% of U.S. adults, or roughly 11 million people, have used psilocybin in the past 12 months, far exceeding use rates for other psychedelics like MDMA, ketamine, or LSD.

This prevalence represents not just occasional exploratory use but a growing presence of psychedelic substances integrated into everyday life. The next most commonly used psychedelics were MDMA/MDA (about 4.7 million adults), Amanita muscaria mushrooms (about 3.5 million), ketamine (3.3 million), and LSD (about 3 million).]

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For comparison, cannabis remains significantly more prevalent, with roughly one in five U.S. adults reporting past-year use in federal surveys. Cannabis’ evolution from federal prohibition to widespread state legalization and normalized therapeutic access provides a useful benchmark for understanding where psychedelics may be headed. While psilocybin use is rising rapidly, it is still in an earlier phase of mainstream adoption relative to cannabis.

Nearly 10 Million Adults Report Microdosing

Microdosing is defined in the survey as taking a sub-perceptual dose. This is a very small amount of a substance that does not produce the classic hallucinogenic effects associated with a full dose. Typically, microdoses are about 10 percent or less of a standard dose. People commonly microdose on a schedule spanning multiple days or weeks, rather than as a one-off experience.

One of the most striking findings from the RAND data is that an estimated 10 million U.S. adults microdosed psilocybin, LSD, or MDMA in the past year.

This is not a small niche, but a sizable portion of the U.S. adult population. Among those who used psilocybin over the past year, 69 percent said they microdosed at least once during that period. Similarly, substantial proportions of MDMA and LSD users reported microdosing.

Perhaps even more revealing: the total number of psilocybin use days reported by survey participants exceeded 200 million days in one year, with nearly half of those days involving microdosing.

Why Microdose? Reported Motivations and Perceptions

The survey itself did not probe motivations in depth, but existing literature and user surveys suggest a range of self-reported reasons people microdose. These include:

• Managing anxiety or depressive symptoms
• Enhancing mood and overall well-being
• Spiritual purposes
• Increasing creativity, focus, or productivity
• Supporting cognitive clarity and problem-solving
• Improving emotional resilience
• Managing chronic and complex conditions

Observational research has found that many individuals who microdose report lower levels of anxiety, stress, and depression compared to non-users, though this relationship is not definitive.

Safety, Regulation, and Research Needs

The rapid increase in psychedelic use raises important questions about safety, public health, and regulation. Psychedelics remain federally prohibited in the U.S. with few exceptions, meaning most individuals are accessing them outside clinical settings, where medical oversight and quality control are lacking.

Critics warn that without standardized definitions, regulated dosing, or robust evidence, microdosing could pose risks ranging from psychological distress to unpredictable interactions with other medications.

At the same time, public opinion surveys outside the RAND study have shown broad support for legal access to regulated psychedelic therapies and for expanding scientific research into their therapeutic uses.

What the 2025 Data Means for U.S. Drug Policy and Research

Collectively, the 2025 RAND survey paints a clear picture: psychedelics, especially psilocybin, are no longer fringe phenomena. Millions of adults in the U.S. are experimenting with these substances, and a large proportion are engaging in microdosing as part of their weekly or monthly routines.

As policymakers, clinicians, and researchers grapple with how to respond, this data offers a critical benchmark. It highlights not only growing public interest in psychedelics but also the urgent need for research, safety frameworks, and nuanced policy discussions that reflect real-world use patterns.