[eurasiantiger]

This is a common fallacy perpetuated by people who have only experienced the alcohol drug.

Microdoses of psychedelics are not impairing. On the contrary, they can improve performance, especially in abstract problem solving.

[mtlmtlmtlmtl]

This study doesn't bear that out, nor have any other placebo-controlled trials.

Also, I've experienced about 40 different psychoactive drugs, including both micro and megadoses of psychedelics. And my experience tracks with GP in that it does cognitively impair you. Maybe don't make blanket statements about people you disagree with, it doesn't make your argument look any stronger.

[austinjp]

Erm, define "impairment". Yes this study notes reduced performance in some areas (but the authors acknowledge plenty of weaknesses and explanations in their discussion). However, increases in something like "creativity" might reduce e.g. verbal fluency, while increasing "performance" for artists, or increasing insights when problem solving in many disciplines.

[mtlmtlmtlmtl]

Well, to look for impairment at any specific task, you want to just do that task, of course.

I agree there's really no meaningful concept of "general impairment" unless you're talking about something more extreme like a brain disorder or heavy alcohol intoxication with global involvement leading to something like a coma or gross movement disorder.

These various neuropsych tests try to test something as specific as possible. Working memory for instance. Their development is a complicated field all on its own. And this is psychology, so it's good to keep the reproducibility crisis in mind and adjust one's credences accordingly.

There's a really cool painter whose name I forget who mainly does self portraits while under the effect of various substances. The one where he huffed computer duster for instance,is just a few meaningless lines on a mostly white canvas. That's a pretty good example of global impairment right there. And there's also sorts of paintings on psychedelics, showing varying degrees of visual impairment. Really recommend googling the guy if you want a very visceral way of visualising the various impairments brought on by psychoactive drugs.

This is becoming an unfocused rant so I'll cap it off here I guess.

[belorn]

There are definitively a number of artists that say they work better with alcohol. "impairment" would be defined as something that increase risk of reduce performance, as in, people who drink alcohol has a higher risk of having their driving skill reduced compared to those who don't have alcohol in their blood. Such statement doesn't exclude the possibility that alcohol may increase driving ability compared to base line, only that the variance is higher and thus risk.

[eurasiantiger]

A lot of artists on the autistic spectrum have stated they’re not ”normal” if they don’t start their day with a drink.

[ace2358]

This aligns with my experiences. Especially for me, how low my productivity was during the come down, which could sometimes last a week or four!

[cdot2]

How do you know you wouldn't have felt the same about a placebo?

[ace2358]

Fuck Brah, have you taken psychedelics or other hard drugs? The comedown feeling where you nervous system feels on fire and your skin feels tight it unmistakable for me. I might possibly feel like that from a placebo, the placebo effect can be very tricky and you kind can play tricks.

But I’d say 99% chance no. I’d know the difference.

This is obviously talking about doses closer to mega dose than micro dose. Although as time went on, even small doses that wouldn’t get me much of a buzz would still ruin me for weeks afterwards.

[eurasiantiger]

Perhaps people are different in this regard.

[manmal]

Now we have two blanket statements.

[mtlmtlmtlmtl]

I'm not sure what blanket statement you're referring to. Please be specific.

[istinetz]

>I've experienced about 40 different psychoactive drugs

That is insane

How is your brain not fried

[mtlmtlmtlmtl]

I didn't say it wasn't :)

I jest, but mostly I took reasonable precautions and stuck to things I was reasonably sure weren't harmful, or at least toxic. I've had some very bad times with the synthetic cannabinoid, though, and I don't wanna go into it other than to say: I was hella lucky not to have my brain fried. Happy to say I've gained a healthier relationship to drugs since then.

[jahnu]

Well if all on one weekend it might be but over a sufficient amount of time it probably, maybe, has less of a impact as having had 40 nights out on a different alcoholic beverage ;)

[eurasiantiger]

Perhaps the ”this is your brain on drugs” propaganda was just that, propaganda?

[geden]

Apparently not, according to this study at least.

[hinkley]

And according to several other top level comments with anecdotes.