Elon Musk Advocates for Prescription Ketamine Use, Highlights Investor Benefits

📝 SUMMARY: Elon Musk, in a recent interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, openly discussed his prescription ketamine use, asserting its effectiveness in managing his depressive episodes. Describing his consumption as moderate and medically supervised, Musk explained how ketamine helps him navigate through "chemical tides" that affect his mood, ultimately maintaining a positive outlook essential for his roles at Tesla ($TSLA) and SpaceX. His remarks came amid inquiries about the potential implications of his drug use on governmental contracts and investor relations, to which Musk responded by emphasizing the paramount importance of execution and value creation for shareholders.

The disclosure follows Musk's pattern of transparency regarding personal challenges and unconventional solutions, extending an invitation for dialogue about mental health treatment options. This conversation gains complexity against the backdrop of Musk's previous criticisms of traditional antidepressants and the broader societal debate on mental health treatments.

The revelation, initially reported by The Wall Street Journal, raised concerns among Tesla and SpaceX executives about Musk's wellbeing and its impact on his leadership. Despite these concerns, Musk defended his ketamine use as productive and not excessive, juxtaposing it against his substantial workload and the drug's potential misuse.

Musk's commentary not only sheds light on his personal health management strategies but also reignites discussions on the use of ketamine as an alternative treatment for depression. This comes at a time when the medical community is increasingly recognizing ketamine's therapeutic potential, albeit the drug's association with high-profile adverse events underscores the importance of cautious, supervised use.

The interview, set against the discontinuation of a planned collaboration with Don Lemon on the X platform, underscores Musk's ongoing commitment to fostering open discourse on controversial topics, including free speech and mental health, on digital platforms.

🔍 SOURCE: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/18/elon-musk-suggests-his-prescription-ketamine-use-is-good-for-investors.html