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Know the Facts about Microdosing Psychedelics, Including Psilocybin

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Microdosing is a practice where individuals consume very small, sub-perceptual doses of a psychoactive substance, typically a psychedelic compound like psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) or LSD. These doses are much lower than what would be needed to induce a full-blown psychedelic experience. Recently, researchers, doctors and patients alike have been turning to microdosing to evaluate if this practice can have positive effects on mental health, mood and cognition struggle. However, all consumers, especially safety sensitive employees like Flight Attendants, should be aware of the below cautions and concerns.

  1. Legal Issues: In many countries and states, psilocybin is illegal, and possessing or using it, even in small amounts, can lead to legal consequences. Even though some US states have legalized psilocybin, it is still considered a Schedule 1 substance at the federal level (just like marijuana).
  2. Lack of Standardization: Psilocybin content in magic mushrooms can vary significantly between species and even individual mushrooms. This makes it difficult to accurately control dosage, potentially leading to unintended and unpredictable effects. Obtaining a reliable source of psilocybin for microdosing can be challenging. Ensuring the quality and purity of the substance is also crucial to avoid potential contaminants or impurities.
  3. Interactions with Medications: Psilocybin may interact with certain medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. These interactions can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous, leading to serious health consequences. Psychological Effects: While the doses in microdosing are sub-perceptual, some individuals may still experience unwanted psychological effects such as anxiety, paranoia, or mood swings.
  4. Dependency and Tolerance: There is a potential for developing a tolerance to psilocybin with regular microdosing, meaning that over time, one might need to increase the dose to achieve the same effects.
  5. Misuse and Self-Medication: Microdosing is often promoted as a remedy for various mental health issues. Using it as a substitute for proper mental health treatment can delay or prevent individuals from seeking necessary help from qualified professionals.
  6. Undesirable Physical Effects: Even though micro-doses are sub-perceptual, there can be mild physical side effects, such as nausea, headaches, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
  7. Individual Variability: Responses to microdosing can vary greatly among individuals. What works well for one person may not have the same effects for another, and some people may experience adverse effects.

If you are struggling with a well-being issue, please reach out to your AFA EAP Committee for access to evidence-based treatments. Your Local EAP Committee can be reached using the contact information at afaalaska.org/eap or by calling (949) 470-0493. Remember, all calls are confidential.

Personal Strategies For Managing The Anniversary Of September 11th 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Anniversaries of tragedies can be difficult times for many people.  For some, the anniversary of 9/11 continues to be a powerful reminder of loss.  For others, who thought they had put the tragedy behind them, the anniversary may produce unexpected anxiety or grief. The anniversary and the media replay of that day’s losses may stir strong emotions and difficult memories in many of us.  But there are ways to cope:

  • Observe the anniversary in a way that’s comfortable for you.  Connecting with others who shared your impact, getting involved in memorial activities and talking about the events of that day are all important coping strategies, but taking time to be by yourself – to think and reflect – can be helpful and healing as well.
  • Limit television and social media as much as possible.  The visual images of the losses that day can prompt especially strong reactions.  Be prepared to take a digital vacation or frequent time-outs  in and around the anniversary to minimize or all together avoid these visual triggers. 
  • If you start to feel overwhelmed, talk with a friend, family member, or your AFA EAP.  Often, talking about your fears and feelings is enough to relieve stress and realize that other people share your feelings.  Taking action is a sign of strength and self-awareness.
  • Recall other times you’ve experienced strong emotions.  Identify which coping strategies have worked for you in the past, and use them.
  • Don’t compare yourself to how others around you appear to be dealing with the September 11th anniversary.  Everyone experiences and copes with stress differently.  Try not to judge people’s emotions by their outside appearance.
  • If you have strong feelings that haven’t or won’t go away, seeking help from a professional may prove useful.  Your AFA EAP can provide you with referrals.
  • Share this information with a flying partner who may be struggling with the upcoming anniversary.

However you choose to structure your day this September 11th or however it just naturally unfolds, please remember that your AFA EAP Committee Members welcome being a part of it. We’re just a phone call away.  

Please call AFA Alaska EAP at (949) 470-0493 for assistance or contact your Local AFA EAP Committee listed at afaalaska.org/eap.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
  • Our AFA EAP Committee wants to share a few reminders about mental health, mental illnesses, and available support.
  • You can reach out to your local AFA EAP Committee Members for assistance in connecting with a professional or addressing concerns, for yourself or a loved one.

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Can your mental health change over time?

Yes, it’s important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors.  When the demands placed on us exceed our resources and coping abilities, our mental health could be impacted. 

How common are mental illnesses?

Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness. About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness, such as major depression.

What causes mental illness?

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as:

  • Adverse Childhood experiences such as trauma or a history of abuse 
  • Experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes
  • Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain
  • Use of alcohol or drugs
  • Having feelings of loneliness or isolation

How can you protect and support your own mental well-being?

Evaluate your mental well-being on a routine basis just like you are advised to do for your physical health. Your AFA EAP can help you connect with a professional to assist you with that process or to address any concerns you may have about your or a loved one’s mental health.  Your local AFA EAP Committee Members can be found on the EAP Committee page of the AFA Alaska website or you can call (949) 470-0493.

Other Parents Like Me (OPLM)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • Our AFA EAP Committee wants to share a free online resource for parents and other caregivers of children struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues.
  • Other Parents Like Me (OPLM) offers several resources free of subscription charge for one year with the code/link provided.
  • This free subscription is a gift from OPLM founder and retired United Airlines Flight Attendant Cassie Fariello.

Other Parents Like Me (OPLM) is an online peer support community designed for parents and other caregivers of children struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues. Normally, it is a fee-based resource, which is now being provided to Flight Attendants free of any subscription charge for one year (1 year). 

OPLM offers a number of resources including:

  • Daily support groups: 17 virtual peer-led meetings every week that include, Men’s and Women’s, Adoptive Families, Meditation, to name a few
  • Subject Matter Speakers: At least 5 speaker meetings per month followed by a Q&A 
  • Parent Stories & Blogs: Personal stories and insights into the journey of parents like you
  • Resource Hub: Search podcasts, articles, apps, books, and more 

This free one-year subscription is being gifted by the OPLM founder and retired United Airlines Flight Attendant Casie Fariello who herself struggled with maintaining her career responsibilities while addressing behavioral health crises with her children.   

Flight Attendants can access their free one-year subscription by using this code: FADAP2023 or link: https://oplm.com/register/?coupon=FADAP2023.

DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT. AFA’s participation in notifying Flight Attendants of this free OPLM subscription does not constitute endorsement by AFA. AFA does not authorize, endorse, support or sponsor any OPLM product, service, or activity.

EAP/Professional Standards Committee News – March 2023

EAP/Professional Standards Committee

Our AFA EAP/Professional Standards Committee (Members helping Members) seeks to assist Members, their families, and partners experiencing personal and work-related problems that could or are affecting their health and well-being on and off the job. Our EAP committee is a Union-sponsored support service provided by Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants, their families, and partners. EAP Peer Representatives are trained to provide three distinct but interrelated services: Assessment, Support, and Referral Services; Professional Standards; and Critical Incident Response.

AFA EAP is a confidential resource available to Members, demonstrating care and concern for its Members individually and collectively.

EAP/Professional Standards Committee Chairpersons

ANCBonnie Waltersanc.eap.chair@afaalaska.org(907) 230-7208
LAXJeanne McCleave  lax.eap.chair@afaalaska.org(949) 922-1606
PDXContesa Nicolaidis  pdx.eap.chair@afaalaska.org(503) 970-6873
SANMelanie Buker   san.eap.chair@afaalaska.org(208) 890-1849
SEAAndrea Koricansea.eap.chair@afaalaska.org(206) 419-2637  
SFOZarah Cummings  sfo.eap.chair@afaalaska.org(925) 577-5733
MECElizabeth Dillon (Chairperson)
Lisa Haugen (Vice Chairperson)		eap@afaalaska.org(949) 470-0493 

DID YOU KNOW: There’s a New Program Called FAAS?

What is FAAS?

FAAS stands for Flight Attendant Addiction Support. It’s a new assistance program developed and run jointly by AFA EAP and management. Any non-probationary Flight Attendant is eligible to use the program.

What does FAAS offer?

  • FAAS is structured to encourage Flight Attendants to seek help before on-the-job misconduct occurs.
  • Those who self-disclose to the company before a work-related performance issue occurs will have access to 30 days of residential treatment at a facility fully paid for by the company,  whether you have Kaiser Insurance, Premera Blue Cross/Blue Shield, or NO Insurance.
  • AFA EAP and your Base Director/Manager will be part of your recovery support team during the treatment period.
  • Should a Flight Attendant’s substance use progress to the point that they show up at work under the influence, the Flight Attendant will have access to company-funded treatment IF the Flight Attendant self-discloses before boarding the first flight of the day and before a reasonable suspicion test is requested. 
  • Should a Flight Attendant’s on-the-job impairment result in a test positive, a pathway to return to flying for Alaska has been developed under the FAAS program following their separation.
  • FAAS is also designed to encourage co-workers to feel comfortable approaching or identifying a Flight Attendant whose impairment risks flight safety. Under FAAS, only the struggling Flight Attendant can jeopardize their job by failing to self-disclose before boarding their first flight of the day or before being identified for testing. Even then, the Flight Attendant will have a pathway for reinstatement.

Does FAAS replace AFA EAP or the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP)?

No. AFA EAP/FADAP offers confidential assistance without company knowledge or involvement.  AFA EAP can confidentially help you decide which of these assistance programs is best for you and your work circumstances.  Unlike FAAS, AFA EAP can also work with probationary Flight Attendants and their family members.  Don’t hesitate to call any of your EAP Committee Members in a safe, confidential setting.

FADAP Contact Information

https://www.fadap.org 
Phone: (855) 33-FADAP / (855) 333-2327
Direct Line: (202) 355-6337

Did You Know: Wings of Sobriety Telephonic Meetings

Meetings are open to all Flight Attendants exploring their need for or seeking recovery from substance use disorders. Meeting times are scheduled every Wednesday at 12 PM Pacific time and Sunday at 2 PM Pacific time. Meetings generally last between 45 minutes and 1 hour. The conference call number to join is (855) 544-2320.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – November 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, November 25, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Hawaiian Flight Attendant Seattle Domicile Letter of Agreement

After extensive negotiations, the Hawaiian Flight Attendant SEA LOA has been ratified, marking a significant milestone for both the union and management. This agreement introduces enhanced contractual provisions specifically designed to protect Hawaiian Flight Attendants as the new Seattle base is established. Hawaiian Flight Attendants are encouraged to review the SEA LOA and Q&A to understand their options.

Seattle Domicile Negotiating Committee – Question and Answer (Q and A)

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants General Q1. When will the Hawaiian SEA domicile open? A. Management anticipates opening the SEA domicile in April 2026. Q2. When will vacancies be posted and awarded for the SEA domicile? A. Management anticipates the initial vacancies to be posted in mid-December 2025 and awarded on January […]

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Wednesday, November 12, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 9 – November 2025

Our JNC met with management for three days of collective bargaining in Seattle, making progress on several key contract sections. A Tentative Agreement was reached on Section 25 (Air Safety, Health and Security), incorporating valuable improvements influenced by the Hawaiian Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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