Rise of the High-Flyers

They call themselves bio-hackers: smart, young professionals who believe the way to get ahead is to get off their heads. Anna hart investigates the smart-drugs culture coming your way

- Anna Hart

In the minutes leading up to 4pm every day, Delphine’s* eyes repeatedly dart to the top right corner of her MacBook screen. On the hour, she snaps her laptop shut and leaves the co-working space of a tech start-up to flop on one of the artfully arranged all-weather beanbags in the sun outside. This precious 20-minute break is her cue to ‘switch gears’, as she puts it. ‘People used to take cigarette breaks, but here in Silicon Valley today, you’re much more likely to see people outside vaporising marijuana or openly popping modafinil,’ says the 26-year-old, with a wry smile. ‘Chugging coffee is considered passé.’

The mid-afternoon is when Delphine’s creative powers slump, she says, and if she wants to be at her desk at 9pm – a necessity during the pre-launch stage of the business – she needs a boost. Like so many women her age, she’s no stranger to experimenting with ‘cognitive enhancers’ such as modafinil (a ‘wakefulness’ agent prescribed for sleep disorders), Ritalin (a nervous system stimulant used to treat ADHD), prescription-only cannabis edibles (legal in certain US states) and kava (a plant-based relaxant sold on Amazon).

She’s even tried ‘microdosing’ – using tiny, virtually unnoticeable quantities (typically 15mcg) of LSD or psilocybin mushroom extract (both totally illegal) at work to boost creativity and productivity. ‘Everyone at university was doing the same,’ she says with a shrug, when I raise an eyebrow. ‘There’s so much pressure to do well, and the right chemistry can help you pull all-nighters for an assignment and get you through a hangover.’ For some, it’s about enhancing performance, convinced this will give them the edge to emerge as winners in the world of work.