Cesar CantuSoftware development is all about creativity, so it should surprise no one that psychedelics have been part of the industry almost since their inception. Magic mushrooms (also known as psilocybin), LSD and substances with similar mind-altering effects can be as common in some programmer’s work kits as a cup of coffee, a pack of cigarettes or a couple cans of energy drinks.
There are plenty of stories of dev teams relying on psychoactives to get through the crunch or reach an Eureka moment. There’s also an increasing volume of scientific literature and testimonies on the effects –detrimental or beneficial– specific mind drugs can have on creativity, mental sharpness and other performance indicators.
In spite of that, the topic of performance-enhancing drugs remains a taboo in most tech circles. Second-hand accounts are fairly common, and some will admit to microdosing or using LSD in their younger, wilder days. However, conversations tend to be little more than whispers under the table.
We queried a set of tech leaders on whether they would allow their dev teams to use psychedelics under the assumption that it would improve their creativity and mental sharpness and/or help relieve stress.
What has been offered are opinions, based on hypotheticals. Unless stated otherwise, none of our sources admit to using or promoting the use of psychoactive substances in the workplace.
Not on company time
“Microdosing in the workplace, especially for software developers, is definitely a hot topic. Some people swear by it, saying it boosts creativity and focus, which are big in our field. But honestly, I would not advocate for it. The long-term effects aren’t apparent, and it’s still illegal in many places, especially in Latin America.
“I think there’s a better way to boost productivity, like setting realistic deadlines, ensuring everyone has a good work-life balance and giving people the space they need to recharge (super critical). Fostering a healthy work environment is a more sustainable way to keep the team at their best without needing to rely on anything extra.
“Developers can experiment with the benefits of psychedelics on personal time, but when it comes to work, it is a collaborative effort to ensure the work environment is set to realistic expectations.”
–Lonnie McRorey (Co-Founder & CEO, TeamStation)–
Go ahead…but do it right
“I am very much of the opinion that this is possible and real [that psychedelic substances improve creativity]; not just because of literature, but because I’ve tried them myself.
“I absolutely would support any member of my team who wishes to experiment, but only after making sure they have the information needed to understand what it does, how it works, when to use it and when not to, and so on. As long as you understand what you’re doing, have a realistic set of expectations, and have been evaluated for ‘fitness’ to what you are trying to use, go for it and see how it works for you.
“What do I mean by evaluated? When I hired my coach for the medicine journey, part of the process involved three, hour-long interviews to ensure that I fully understood what I was getting into and that I wasn’t taking any drugs that could have a negative interaction; that I wasn’t clinically depressed or otherwise seemed likely to be pursuing this for the wrong reasons.
“It was also important to make sure I didn’t have a hidden personality disorder that would indicate I was a poor candidate. Some psychedelics (like 5-meo-dmt) can, in people who are already detached from reality, cause them to lose whatever fragile link they still maintain and be “lost” forever. Definitely don’t want that happening!”
–Barak Engel (Founder & CEO, EAmmune)–
Don’t ask, don’t tell
“I have read about microdosing. I have seen that, for instance, the FDA recently turned down MDMA for PTSD. I would not be surprised if it became recognized as having positive benefits in certain situations.
“I would not try it [psychedelics for software development] at this point in my career. Probably would have many years ago.
“I consider it entirely a personal decision of the employee. I monitor results. Microdosing, relationship issues, etc. are all personal. I will let anyone know of progression or digression from their job duties, but my role requires me to be objective on their performance. To me, it is simply none of my (nor the company’s) business. As in, not only will I not ask, I will not have the conversation. It seems too risky for me or the company to even passively endorse something like this.”
–Christopher Snyder (VP of Engineering, Zego)–
Ask a doctor first
“I wouldn’t allow my devs to use psychedelic substances to improve their work or reduce stress. Using any substance that isn’t clinically approved or prescribed by a proper medical professional poses a serious ethical and security dilemma. For me to allow it, it would take an actual medical professional recommending those substances [for working purposes], or them being legalized in the countries where my dev team resides.
“Although it is vital to manage stress in any team, I firmly believe that should be achieved through natural and sustainable methods, like improvements in employment quality, the promotion of a healthy workplace and fostering an adequate work-life balance.
“These strategies would not only save you from unnecessary risk, but also contribute to integral and long-lasting wellbeing in the team.”
–Santiago Fontanarrosa (VP of Technology at Airlines Reinvention Studio, Globant)–
Outright no
“It might look like these substances provide a boost for engineers in situations of high pressure, but their use isn’t something I agree with.
“I’m partial to other strategies, like gamification, team bonding and one-on-ones. Those can allow a team to boost their creativity, hard skills and soft skills. Strategies focused on engineers that are dealing with stress, or close to burning out, can help to reduce or eliminate it outright.
“Have yet to read the literature [on the use of psychedelics to improve performance], but I think you can motivate an engineer through the methods I mentioned.
“I once attended a conference in which the speaker mentioned that Java’s name came from all the coffee the dev team had to drink to keep themselves awake, motivated and in top shape when they were building the language. If that [consuming substances for performance] happens in Silicon Valley, I’m sure it’s because such practices have been normalized there.”
It’s a personal choice
“In my professional experience, people who work in IT are an extremely neurodivergent group. This is often a great strength, but it can also have a negative impact on individuals in the workplace in terms of their mental health and the creativity required to do their jobs effectively. As a result, a significant percentage of technology professionals are prescribed psychoactive substances to enable them to function effectively at work. However, according to published papers, traditional medications such as antidepressants or anxiolytics can actually impair cognition and creativity.
“From my own perspective as an executive, I generally take an outcome-based view. Does something create a net benefit for the company, even indirectly? Even if the science is currently unsettled, the only ethical reason to stick my nose into an employee’s private health regimen would be if it created practical problems at work. Setting aside legalities, an employee privately microdosing psilocybin would only come to my attention as a work performance or behavioral issue.
“Ethically, this should be no different than dealing with employee burn-out, drug addiction or alcoholism, or any other mental or physical ailment. I don’t see any reason to vary my approach simply because the proximate cause of an employee’s improvement or deficit is microdosing psilocybin rather than something else.”
–Todd Jacobs (CT&O Programm Manager, Truist)–
Our clients wouldn’t allow it
“While I have heard of people using microdosing for some of those reasons you describe [enhancing creativity and combating stress], as a company we could not endorse or support their use in any way.
“For the industries that we work in, we have some clients who must enforce a ‘no tolerance’ policy on drug use of any kind, and we have to follow the compliance requirements of our clients.
“We have done some work in industries where background checks or drug tests can be required on request. That could result in termination of a contract for an individual, and so my personal opinion is it’s not worth the risk. Coffee or mate is still the safer choice.”
Just to build on what I mentioned earlier, it’s interesting to think about how psychedelics might fit into the way we manage and lead software teams. I know it sounds a bit out there, but considering the potential benefits like increased creativity, deeper self-awareness, and empathy, it’s worth a discussion—if nothing else, just to broaden our thinking about team dynamics.
1. Boosting Creativity and Problem-Solving:
IMO, software development is all about tackling challenging problems in creative ways. Psychedelics have been linked to enhancing imaginative thinking, which could be a game-changer during those intense brainstorming sessions or when you’re trying to crack a particularly tough code.
2. Building Stronger Team Connections:
The idea here is that psychedelics might help people tap into a deeper sense of empathy and understanding. In a team setting, this could translate into better communication and stronger bonds, which are always good for collaboration.
3. Focusing on Mental Health:
Even if psychedelics aren’t your thing, just talking about them can bring more attention to mental health, which is super important. Creating a supportive environment where people feel mentally strong can only make the team better.
Of course, this is all hypothetical and should be approached with caution. We’re not talking about dropping acid at work! But I think being open to new ideas—even ones that seem a little out there—can help us find better ways to lead and support our teams.
So, yeah, not necessarily advocating for psychedelics in the workplace, but I do think it’s valuable to stay curious and consider all the tools that might help us be better leaders in this crazy tech world we’re navigating.