Psychedelic Mushrooms
What is it?
- Psychedelic mushrooms are hallucinogens/psychotropic drugs that contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance. Consuming a psychedelic mushroom causes differences in mood, perception, and behaviour that are commonly known as “tripping”, as well as hallucinations. Psychedelic mushrooms are one of the most widely used recreational psychotropic drugs because they are easily found in the wild and are grown inexpensively. Psychedelic mushrooms act on the central nervous system that share some similarities with LSD. However, psychedelic mushrooms technically don’t produce hallucinations but rather distort the perception of actual objects. The set and setting of the user is important on the effects of the drug. Users in a poor mental state or a packed environment are more likely to have a bad trip, where they feel paranoid and anxious instead of euphoric. Some nicknames for psychedelic mushrooms are magic mushrooms, shrooms, and mushies.
- Psychedelic mushrooms are consumed by orally consuming them. This can be done through brewing a tea with them, mixing them with other foods or just straight up eating them. However, these mushrooms have a bitter taste and users often mask the taste with chocolate. Approximately 30 minutes after being eaten, the drug kicks in.
- As stated above, psychedelic mushrooms can be grown inexpensively and can be found fairly easily in the wild. This leads to a large number of people being able to purchase or grow psychedelic mushrooms for recreational use.
What are the short term effects?
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure - Rapid breathing - Disorientation - Changed emotional feelings - Euphoria - Depression - Fear - Nausea and loss of appetite - Unpredictable trips |
What are the long term effects?
- Prolonged depression - Psychosis - Flashback weeks, months, or even years after the drug use - Flashbacks may be pleasant or a living nightmare - Bad trips may last hours, weeks, and even months |
How can you minimise its harms?
- If you are scared of the potential effects, in a poor mental state, or in an uncomfortable environment, do NOT take psychedelic mushrooms.
- If you are in a group, make sure that one member is a sitter who will stay clean and attend to any bad trippers
- Drink lots of water beforehand and, if possible, during
- Consume on an empty stomach to have the best effect of magic mushrooms with the least harms.
- Absolutely do NOT mix psychedelic mushrooms with other drugs
- If you are scared of the potential effects, in a poor mental state, or in an uncomfortable environment, do NOT take psychedelic mushrooms.
- If you are in a group, make sure that one member is a sitter who will stay clean and attend to any bad trippers
- Drink lots of water beforehand and, if possible, during
- Consume on an empty stomach to have the best effect of magic mushrooms with the least harms.
- Absolutely do NOT mix psychedelic mushrooms with other drugs