Laura Smith
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are psychedelic drugs that can induce hallucinations and distort a person's sense of reality. They contain the psychoactive ingredients psilocybin and psilocin, which are controlled substances. While the physical effects of magic mushrooms are typically mild and may include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and perspiration, the psychological effects can be more complex and vary widely across individuals. The risks associated with magic mushrooms are mostly psychological and include hallucinations, anxiety, panic, paranoia, and mood swings. In rare cases, users may experience a bad trip, which can lead to traumatic experiences or even death. Furthermore, the potential long-term effects of magic mushroom usage are still unknown, with studies suggesting possible alterations in brain chemistry and serotonin systems that regulate mood, emotions, and cognitive functions. Therefore, it is crucial to be well-informed about the risks and potential repercussions of consuming magic mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main risk | Poisoning from consuming poisonous mushrooms by mistake |
| Effects | Euphoria, sensory distortion, hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, anxiety, panic, paranoia, flashbacks, nausea, yawning, drowsiness, relaxation |
| Effects onset time | 15-45 minutes |
| Duration of effects | 4-6 hours |
| Long-term effects | Changes in personality, flashbacks |
| Potential therapeutic benefits | Treatment for psychiatric and behavioral conditions, such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and problematic substance use |
| Legality | Mostly illegal in the US, Schedule I substance under the DEA, illegal in Canada under the CDSA |
| Decriminalization | Denver, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Ann Arbor, and Oregon |
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What You'll Learn
Hallucinations and sensory distortion
Hallucinogenic drugs like psilocybin can cause a person to hallucinate, seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted. They can also cause a distorted sense of time and affect a person's thoughts, emotions, and sense of reality. The hallucinations and sensory distortions caused by psilocybin mushrooms can lead to a range of experiences, from euphoria and feelings of connection to paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms typically begin within 20 to 40 minutes of consumption and can last up to 6 hours. However, the duration of the effects can vary depending on the dose, the type of mushroom, and individual factors such as a person's mood and environment. The intensity and nature of the hallucinations and sensory distortions can also vary significantly from person to person.
While the short-term effects of psilocybin mushrooms usually wear off within 6 to 12 hours, some people may experience long-term changes in personality and flashbacks, also known as hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD). These flashbacks can occur weeks, months, or even years after taking psilocybin mushrooms and can be triggered by various factors such as stress, tiredness, or the use of other drugs.
It is important to note that the effects of psilocybin mushrooms are unpredictable, and it is challenging to know how an individual will respond. The risk of a ""bad trip" or negative experience increases with higher doses or feelings of anxiety before taking the mushrooms. Additionally, the mushrooms themselves can be difficult to identify, and there is a risk of accidentally consuming poisonous mushrooms, which can have severe and even fatal consequences.
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Physical side effects
The physical side effects of taking mushrooms can vary from person to person, and are generally considered minor. These effects can be the direct result of the mushrooms or a physical reaction to the psychological experiences while taking them. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can cause a range of physical sensations, including changes in body temperature, tactile enhancements, and altered bodily perceptions.
Some common short-term physical side effects include dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure, and increased heart rate. These symptoms are usually mild and considered side effects of emotional intensification. It is worth noting that the more one uses mushrooms, the more heart damage one may cause, potentially leading to heart disease over time.
Other reported short-term physical symptoms include nausea, increased perspiration, numbing, and tremors. These symptoms can sometimes make psychological symptoms like anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, and mood swings appear more pronounced.
In rare cases, individuals may experience delayed headaches that typically last less than a day. Additionally, some people may experience physical side effects such as agitation, confusion, vomiting, or severe nausea, which may require medical attention.
While long-term physical effects directly attributed to the pharmacology of psilocybin mushrooms are rare, research suggests that they may be influenced by underlying psychological disorders. It is important to note that the potential implications of prolonged mushroom use on long-term mental health are still being studied.
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Mental side effects
The mental side effects of taking mushrooms vary from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as mental health, setting, quantity, and expectations. The active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, affects the brain in multiple ways, causing both pleasant and unpleasant mental health side effects.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that binds to and activates serotonin receptors in parts of the brain that affect mood, cognition, and perception. This can lead to sensory distortion, euphoria, and hallucinations. However, it can also cause unpleasant side effects such as confusion, agitation, and distorted thinking. Some people may also experience extreme fear, anxiety, panic, or paranoia, known as a "bad trip". The risk of a bad trip may be higher for individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions or those who take higher doses of psilocybin.
In addition to the immediate mental side effects, there is also a risk of experiencing flashbacks or "flashback episodes" weeks, months, or even years after taking magic mushrooms. These flashbacks typically involve visual distortions and changes in emotions or perception, and can be triggered by stress, tiredness, or the use of other drugs.
While research suggests that magic mushrooms are not addictive, tolerance can develop rapidly with continued use, and discontinuing use for a week or so is typically needed to reset tolerance levels. Overall, the mental side effects of magic mushrooms can be complex and vary widely depending on the individual and their circumstances.
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Misidentification as poisonous mushrooms
One of the main risks of consuming magic mushrooms is mistaking them for poisonous mushrooms. The consequences of misidentifying mushrooms can be severe and even deadly. While reading about mushrooms in a book or online can be helpful, engaging with them on another level, such as making mushroom dyes or spore prints, can aid in better distinguishing different species. Additionally, joining an accredited mushroom identification course can provide valuable knowledge and skills for safe mushroom foraging.
The vast majority of mushroom-related deaths are caused by species in the genus Amanita, with the most poisonous mushroom being Amanita phalloides, also known as the Death Cap. Death Caps are found in many parts of the world, including Europe, the East and West coasts of the United States, and Canada. They have a wide cap, often sticky, that can be yellowish, brownish, whitish, or greenish, with white gills. They grow on a stalk about 5 inches tall, with a white cup at its base. Immature Death Caps can be mistaken for young puffballs or paddy straw mushrooms, leading to accidental poisoning.
Another highly poisonous mushroom is the Destroying Angel (Amanita verna), which is also found in various parts of the world. It gets its name from its pure white stalks and caps. The Destroying Angel has been misidentified as the edible meadow mushroom (Agaricus campestris). Shaggy Mane, a non-deadly mushroom, is one species that survivors of Amanita poisoning thought they were collecting.
False chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) is a toxic mushroom found in North America and Europe. It resembles the edible chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) but often has a more irregular shape, a paler colour, and a slightly different texture. Chanterelles are considered beginner-friendly for foragers due to their distinct appearance, with a funnel shape and a vibrant orange or yellow colour. However, they can look similar to the poisonous Jack O'Lantern mushroom, which emits a faint greenish glow due to bioluminescence and typically grows in clusters on decaying wood. Consuming Jack O'Lantern mushrooms will not typically kill an adult but can cause several days of digestive discomfort.
To stay safe, it is crucial to accurately identify mushrooms before consuming them. If in doubt, it is best to avoid eating them. Inexperienced foragers should seek guidance from an experienced and trusted mycologist when searching for mushrooms in the wild. Additionally, regularly removing all mushrooms from areas accessible to children can prevent accidental consumption and potential poisoning.
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Tolerance and addiction
Tolerance
With repeated use of magic mushrooms, the body can build up a tolerance to the active compound psilocybin. This occurs because psilocybin interacts with the body's serotonin receptors, specifically the 5HT2A receptors, which are found in areas of the brain responsible for regulating cognitive function, mood, perception, and more. Over time, these receptors become downregulated, causing the body to become desensitized to the effects of psilocybin and its metabolite psilocin. As a result, users may increase their dosage in an attempt to achieve the desired effects, leading to either diminished returns or an unintentionally intense trip.
The development of tolerance to psilocybin has been observed in both human and animal studies. In one set of experiments, volunteers who had developed a tolerance to LSD were found to also exhibit a "cross-tolerance" to psilocybin, demonstrating the interconnected nature of tolerance to serotonergic substances.
Fortunately, magic mushroom tolerance is not long-lasting. It takes around two weeks for serotonin receptors to return to their base level, after which users can once again experience the full effects of a given dose. Mushroom tolerance calculators are also available online to help users estimate appropriate dosages while taking tolerance into account.
Addiction
While magic mushrooms are not considered highly addictive in the same way as opioids or stimulants, psychological dependence can still develop. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) currently lists mushrooms as a Schedule I substance, indicating a high risk for abuse and no known medical benefits. However, this contradicts the growing body of research exploring the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in treating mental health disorders, including substance use disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.
The risk of addiction to magic mushrooms is generally considered low, and their use is often described as episodic and experimental. However, some individuals may develop problematic or compulsive patterns of use, particularly if they are seeking the pleasurable feelings associated with mushroom trips. Additionally, the increasing availability and perception of psilocybin mushrooms as a "natural" and safe drug have contributed to their abuse among younger populations, underscoring the importance of education, prevention efforts, and early intervention.
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Frequently asked questions
Common short-term side effects include euphoria, hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, increased heart rate, nausea, and delayed headaches.
There are no known serious long-term side effects of taking mushrooms. However, some people may experience flashbacks, which can be triggered by stress, involving a previous magic mushroom experience.
Taking mushrooms with other substances, such as cannabis, amphetamines, or alcohol, or psychiatric medications, can increase the risk of serious side effects and adverse events.
Taking a high dose of mushrooms can lead to a "'bad trip'", which may include paranoia, loss of boundaries, a distorted sense of self, and risk-taking behaviour that can result in traumatic injuries or even death.
Consuming poisonous mushrooms can result in accidental poisoning, with symptoms including muscle spasms, confusion, and delirium. In rare cases, it can also lead to septic shock and multi-system organ failure.
