According to recent media reports, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is believed to be consuming small quantities of ketamine for alleviating depression and has also been spotted taking the drug for non-medicinal purposes.
The report claims that Musk consumes full doses of the drug during social gatherings, based on accounts from witnesses who have reportedly observed his ketamine use and sources directly informed on the matter. Musk chose not to respond when approached for comment.
Following the Wall street Journal report, Musk took to Twitter discussing the use of ketamine as a potential treatment for depression. He highlighted the problem of overdiagnosis of depression in the U.S. and the overuse of SSRIs, suggesting that ketamine could be a preferable alternative for some.
Ketamine is classified as a “dissociative drug”, which can influence the visual and auditory perceptions of an individual and create a feeling of detachment from reality. It is generally used in medicine as an anesthetic, but it is also illegally used recreationally. Ketamine comes in various forms, including white powder, liquid, or pill.
Clinical trials have been exploring ketamine as a potential treatment for depression, offering a new avenue for mental health treatment. While the U.S. FDA has not officially endorsed ketamine for mental health treatment, some healthcare professionals have been prescribing it off-label for over ten years.
Silicon Valley executives’ experimentation with psychedelics is not limited to Musk. Sergey Brin, Google‘s co-founder, has also reportedly used psilocybin mushrooms. It’s known that Brin has attended events where psychedelic substances were consumed openly. Similarly, members of the Founders Fund, a prominent venture capital firm in San Francisco, are reported to host events featuring psychedelic substances.
Microdosing, or the practice of consuming minimal amounts of a drug, has gained popularity in Silicon Valley, with executives experimenting with substances like LSD to allegedly enhance creativity and concentration. However, the efficacy of these substances remains uncertain, and many of them are still illegal.
Musk’s drug use has previously raised eyebrows. After appearing on a podcast with Joe Rogan in 2018 where he smoked cannabis, Musk and the entire SpaceX team were subjected to a year of drug testing. Musk’s use of Ambien to help him sleep also sparked concern among Tesla board members.
According to a New York Times report from last year, Musk frequently engages in discussions about the benefits of psychedelic drugs and has been a regular attendee of the Burning Man festival for the past two decades. A long-time friend of Musk’s confirmed that Musk has participated in “mild exploratory journeys”, characterizing them as controlled and enjoyable experiences.
