Elon Musk’s Reported Drug Use Raises Concerns Amid High-Level Government Role

U.S A May 31, 2025 — Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and former high-level adviser in the Trump administration, reportedly engaged in frequent drug use while holding significant influence over federal policy, according to sources cited in a detailed New York Times investigation.

Citing multiple individuals familiar with the matter, the report alleges that Musk regularly consumed a combination of ketamine, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), and psychedelic mushrooms during his tenure as head of the Trump administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” known informally as DOGE. These claims emerge following Musk’s recent resignation from his government post, after a series of public controversies and erratic behavior.

According to the Times, Musk traveled with a daily supply of approximately 20 pills and reportedly developed a pattern of frequent ketamine use that, by last year, began to result in physical complications — including bladder issues, a well-documented side effect of chronic ketamine abuse. This level of consumption contradicts previous public statements by Musk, who had described his usage as occasional and therapeutic.

In a March 2024 interview with journalist Don Lemon, Musk acknowledged using ketamine “about once every two weeks,” emphasizing his demanding workload as a limiting factor. “If you’ve used too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done,” he said at the time.

However, the Times reports that associates close to Musk observed a far more intensive pattern of use, raising questions about his capacity to carry out sensitive government responsibilities. Musk is said to have attended high-level meetings with foreign leaders and wielded influence over major federal spending decisions while potentially under the influence of psychoactive substances.

Although Musk was classified as a “special government employee” — a designation that exempts him from some federal workforce regulations — his reported use of ecstasy, a Schedule I controlled substance under U.S. law, would be strictly prohibited for most federal personnel. Ketamine, while legally available via prescription as a Schedule III substance, is not approved for recreational use and would likely violate federal workplace policies if misused or combined with other drugs.

Sources who viewed photographs of Musk’s medication container described pills marked as Adderall, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit disorders, alongside unidentified substances.

A spokesperson for the White House, Harrison Fields, declined to directly address whether Musk underwent any drug testing during his government service. Instead, Fields defended Musk’s tenure, saying:

“Few CEOs in America would leave the comfort of the C-suite to serve in the federal government. Yet Elon Musk did just that, joining the Trump administration’s efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. DOGE and its core mission are now embedded in the fabric of the federal government and continue to drive efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.”

Despite Musk’s prominent role, his conduct drew growing scrutiny in recent months. His public behavior included disparaging remarks about fellow cabinet members and a controversial gesture during a political rally that was widely interpreted as mimicking a Nazi salute.

Musk’s conduct also reportedly strained relationships with some of his former allies. Prominent author and podcaster Sam Harris, who was once a close associate, ended his relationship with Musk earlier this year. In a January newsletter, Harris wrote, “There is something seriously wrong with his moral compass, if not his perception of reality.”

SpaceX, Musk’s private aerospace company, maintains strict drug-free workplace standards due to its federal contracts. However, Times sources claim Musk may have received advance notice of random drug tests, calling into question the integrity of the enforcement process.

Musk’s exit from government marks the end of an unconventional chapter in federal leadership — one defined by innovation, controversy, and a growing list of questions about personal conduct and accountability at the highest levels of public service.