Should We Trip Out Together at Work?

The following quotes are from a recent Wall Street Journal article, representing opposing viewpoints on the merit of using so-called “mind bending” drugs at work.

“I don’t like the idea of a work culture getting to the point where working insane hours is not enough. On top of that, you now need to be doing drugs to work even harder.”

“This is the next level of biohacking, and if I can be more creative in two hours than the person next to me is in eight, that’s an advantage.”

Apparently this has become an emerging trend with an increasing number of executives, particularly in technology, and high finance companies.

I guess this makes the mystical wish to find a magic pill for business success somewhat literal?

An outspoken and growing group of trippy professionals swear a capsule of psilocybin (magic mushrooms), or an infusion of ketamine is a creativity trigger, and perhaps even a team building exercise.

Even a few high profile business celebrities like Elon Musk have been transparent about micro dosing and using ketamine. During an interview on X, Musk stated: “There are times when I have sort of, I don’t know, a negative chemical state in my brain. Like depression, I guess. Or like, depression that’s not linked to any negative news, and then ketamine is helpful for getting one out of a negative frame of mind.” Musk also claimed too much ketamine slowed his work output.

What do you think about this trend? I believe in the importance of having a growth mindset, and it would be hypocritical if I didn’t open myself to better understanding this matter and seeing the research on pros/cons. Perhaps I’m old fashioned, because I can’t help feeling something off-putting about this. There are so many basic things to help each other thrive in the workplace, do we need to add drugs into the mix?

I’d love to know your thoughts on this!

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: If people can excuse mixing drugs and work, they will - that’s how Hemingway and Bukowski loved a bar, 80’s Wall Street is synonymous with cocaine, and we all know someone with a sign that says “But first! Coffee!” Skip to 2024, since we’re more conscious of the negative effects of prolonged alcohol and powdered narcotic use, we’ve evolved to the more natural stuff. So long as that pesky fentanyl doesn’t accidentally get mixed in and kill you, why not trip a little and get paid for it?

Keep in mind these are the bosses, their supply is probably professionally sourced, they consult medical teams, and they can afford an “oopsie” day in case the ketamine dose slips from a creative conquest to a k-hole.

Look, I don’t know how good or bad this is. It feels like those experimenting with this have the autonomy and safety cushion to do so, however most of us will likely just have to rely on traditional, drugless operations, unless of course you count the interns on adderall.

- Garrett

Should We Trip Out Together at Work?

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