Elon Musk's father Errol slams media 'hit job' after reports claim Tesla CEO uses drugs to cope with depression
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tech billionaire Elon Musk is said to use the drug Ketamine to treat his depression, per a Wall Street Journal story. The report cites witnesses saying the 51-year-old "also uses psychedelic-like substances at parties."
The tech giant's father Errol Musk, 77, has denounced the shocking allegation that his son is abusing drugs to cope with his demanding life and suspected mental health issues.
Errol referred to an article by The New Yorker magazine about his tech billionaire son as "utter BS" and said it contained "blatant inaccuracies."
Did Elon Musk advocate use of ketamine and psychedelics?
The Journal cites unidentified sources who either observed Elon take ketamine or were told by Musk himself that he uses larger dosages of the drug at social gatherings and lower amounts to alleviate his depression.
Elon said in a tweet soon after the release of the WSJ report that "ketamine taken occasionally is a better option" than conventional anti-depressant medication, citing the testimonials of "friends."
As per Forbes magazine, Elon further condemned the commonly used medications for mental disorders, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), for "zombifying people."
Depression is overdiagnosed in the US, but for some people it really is a brain chemistry issue.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 27, 2023
But zombifying people with SSRIs for sure happens way too much. From what I’ve seen with friends, ketamine taken occasionally is a better option.
In a widely noted incident, the 52-year-old also used marijuana during a 2018 appearance on the 'Joe Rogan Experience' podcast.
Elon explained at the time, "I do not smoke pot. As anyone who watched that podcast can tell I have no idea how to smoke pot, or anything."
However, he has also been linked to 420, a slang term for marijuana in the cannabis scene.
Elon has previously suggested mixing alcohol and the sleep-difficulty medication Ambien, which addiction experts warn is deadly. "A little red wine, vintage record, some Ambien ... and magic!" he tweeted in June 2017.
Elon has a history of making jokes about drugs. In April last year, after agreeing to buy Twitter, he tweeted, "Next I’m buying Coca-Cola to put the cocaine back in."
Elon came under fire after consuming marijuana on the 2018 podcast, which is permitted in California but prohibited by the federal government.
Elon Musk's use of ketamine in micro-doses
Reportedly, Musk admitted to using modest dosages of the drug ketamine with others to boost creativity, increase productivity, and alleviate depressive and anxiety symptoms.
In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved an inhalable form of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, citing encouraging clinical trials.
However, recreational use of ketamine is prohibited, and the FDA's approval mandated that patients use the medication in a healthcare worker's presence due to the possibility of abuse.
Elon Musk's dad responds to claims
As per The US Sun, Errol, a retired electromechanical engineer, believes the allegations are all part of a larger campaign by Elon's adversaries.
He also seemed to tie them to recent legal actions taken by the US government to pursue Elon's commercial interests.
Additionally, Errol claimed that his son's use of marijuana during his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast was motivated by a desire to avoid appearing "prudish."
Errol explained, "The Joe Rogan thing caught Elon off balance. Not wanting to look prudish on such a show, he took the puff, which experts said did not include inhaling, thank heavens, as Elon would have coughed the show to a close."
Asked about the New Yorker article, Errol told the outlet, "It’s a very worrying hit job on Elon, filled with blatant inaccuracies. Subject to the same scrutiny, 99.9 percent of those who view Elon in the light of this article would be condemned outright as a danger to society."
Errol refuted the accusations by highlighting his family's opposition to drugs.
"The speculation that Elon has mental health issues and may be self-medicating with Ambien and ketamine is more hitting on him for made-up reasons to score points for the 'liberals'," added Errol.
Errol went on to say, "What is suggested is utter BS. From start to finish. We are people who cannot stomach alcohol, are completely averse to smoking, and are almost totally averse to medications, including drugs of any sort."