Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Jan. 22, 2026
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Millions of Americans Are Microdosing Psychedelics
A first-of-its-kind RAND survey asked U.S. adults about their psychedelic use. The findings, detailed in a new report released this week, give fresh insights into how--and how often--Americans are using these substances.
Psilocybin (also known as magic mushrooms) remains the most used psychedelic. More than 4 percent of respondents reported using psilocybin in the last year--that's about 11 million Americans. Psilocybin was followed by MDMA, Amanita muscaria mushrooms, ketamine, and LSD.
But one of the biggest takeaways from the survey is just how common it is for people who use psychedelics to microdose--to take a very small amount without intending to alter their state of consciousness.
* Roughly 10 million adults reported microdosing psilocybin, LSD, or MDMA in 2025.
* Among those who used psilocybin in the past year, 69 percent microdosed at least once.
* The total number of days that U.S. adults used psilocybin in 2025 exceeded 200 million. Nearly half of those days involved microdosing.
"There is an emerging discussion about the effects of microdosing on creativity, well-being, and mental health, but until now little was known about how common it is," said RAND's Michelle Priest, lead author of the report. "Our findings suggest that for those who use psychedelics, taking small doses is a big deal."
As more states and cities debate potential changes to their policies on psychedelics, these insights offer a clearer picture of how Americans are using these substances.
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Would You Let AI Do Your Taxes?
With tax season nearly underway, RAND's Carter Price has a thought-provoking question: Would you let your favorite LLM file your return? In principle, this should be an ideal use case for AI. But the stakes are too high. ("The robot did it" is unlikely to be a compelling excuse for an error.) While AI seems likely to cause major economic disruptions in the years ahead, this thought experiment highlights a broader economic truth, Price says: "Before they replace human workers, AI systems need to be able to do the required tasks--and consumers and employers need to trust that AI will do them properly."
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U.S. STEM Success Starts in Elementary School
How can the United States compete with countries like China in STEM education? According to RAND's Julia Kaufman, it starts with rethinking math and science teaching at the elementary level. Importantly, this doesn't mean replicating China's narrowly selective school system, she says. But it may require big shifts, such as creating dedicated math and science departments in upper elementary grades.
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** RAND Recommends
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- China's birth rate just hit a record low. In a new episode of Policy Minded, RAND's Mark Cozad discusses how this could affect the country's military power.
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- A new RAND report analyzes global LLM adoption patterns, focusing on the competitive dynamics between the United States and China.
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- Applications are open for the inaugural RAND/DARPA Geoeconomics Summer Study in Washington, D.C. The program is open to undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students.
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** Policy Minded, RAND's Flagship Podcast
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On Policy Minded, we pick the brains of the world's top policy experts. In each episode, RAND researchers join us for conversations that go beyond the headlines--bringing you insights you can't find anywhere else.
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