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Comment by backpropaganda | Hacker News Reader

If any of you are suffering from depression, you should seriously try microdosing LSD.

While I'm sure there are a few causes of depression and contextual life events and personalities for which LSD might be useful, it's downright irresponsible to suggest that "if any reader" suffers from depression he should turn to narcotics.

I'm not saying I have the study to show that LSD can help with any depression, but do you have any evidence that it only helps with certain kinds? (I know, burden of proof is on me)

The reason my advice isn't irresponsible is because microdosing LSD has no downsides. If it doesn't work, nothing breaks. Try something else then.

Depression is a real life-killer, and if 10 people tried my advice, and this worked for only 1 of them (although I think at least 5 would), then this advice has essentially saved 1 life, while not harming the others.

Even if it could help them, there are risks[0], and in most jurisdictions, LSD is a highly restricted drug which doctors cannot prescribe therapeutically, so there is no guarantee of dose or purity. People with severe depression who would entertain this seriously are already prone to impulsive behavior and cognitive difficulties. The suggestion is irresponsible.

[0] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000795.htm

You might as well suggest a sugar pill, then.

There are downsides to LSD. Illegality is probably the biggest. Here's a self-study showing micro-dosing is pointless (for the person) and possibly has harmful trends: https://www.gwern.net/LSD%20microdosing

I appreciate the suggestion myself.

I wish LSD were medically available and studied. It's a powerful, important drug.

But I don't think it's safe in arbitrary settings at a high dose, so I am reluctant to say it's safe in arbitrary setting at a low dose. It can open you to traumatic realities as much as kind ones.

Probably most people with depression are over perceiving the harsh, but some are actually in serious harsh harsh and LSD might make that worse. Don't know. Talk to your shaman.

I would if I could get it, unless you live in CA and know people it isn't exactly easy to get.

You can buy 1p-LSD. It's legal and can be obtained using legal routes using your real name, and has the same behaviour has LSD. You can read up about it.

In the US, in this enforcement climate, chancing whether the Federal Analogue Act applies to this compound is quite a risk, especially if the hypothetical taker can be shown to have had intent in obtaining it as an analogue.

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