What You Should Know About Psilocybin Mushrooms

Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic drug produced by more than 100 species of mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms, which can be found throughout the world. Psilocybin is considered an illicit drug, and various mushrooms addiction treatment facilities offer rehabilitation and recovery for people who are addicted to psilocybin mushrooms.

History of Religious and Ceremonial Use

More than 100 species of psilocybin mushrooms can be found in the United States, specifically in the Pacific Northwest and the Deep South. Like other psychedelic drugs, mushrooms have been used by ancient people for thousands of years. Evidence of mushroom cults has been found to exist for more than 7,000 years in Libya, Algeria, and Chad. The Aztecs call these mushrooms “teonanacati,” or the “flesh of the gods,” and when used in a beverage, it was considered a sacred ritual drink.

Cultural traits and mushroom cults migrated from Asia to Western countries with American and Mexican migrants. However, during the European conquest, clergy attempted to suppress the use of mushrooms in ceremonial rites and religious practices to convert users to Christianity. Those who resisted the conquest were driven underground and continued to practice mushroom ceremonies. Psilocybin mushrooms are still held in great reverence by native Mexicans, who still use the mushrooms in their holy ceremonies.

Will Mushroom use Become Legalized?

Psilocybin mushrooms are illegal to use and sell in most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the Netherlands, Finland, and Belgium. Psilocybin mushrooms are classified as Schedule I drugs by the United States, which means the mushrooms have a high potential for drug abuse. It is recommended that anyone who has abused the drug undergoes mushrooms addiction treatment. Mushrooms are also not regulated by UN treaties or the Food and Drug Administration. Although there has been renewed interest regarding the potential psychological and medical benefits of psilocybin mushrooms, they are still not accepted for medical use, as they lack accepted safety usage and regulations.

Availability and Usage

Psilocybin mushrooms grow wild in various parts of the United States. More than a dozen mushrooms that contain the active ingredient psilocybin are found in the Pacific Northwest. There are also various species that grow using inexpensive and simple techniques. The United States and Mexico are considered the predominant sources of psilocybin and magic mushrooms. Mushrooms addiction treatment aims to control the cases of mushroom addiction in the country.

“Psilocybin is a biologically active ingredient of these magic mushrooms…”

Mushrooms are usually eaten, but they can also be brewed into tea. Due to their bitter taste, the mushrooms are often cooked together with other ingredients or foods. Psilocybin is a biologically active ingredient of these magic mushrooms, and it cannot be deactivated by boiling or cooking.

There are approximately 190 species of psilocybin mushrooms, and each species contains different potencies of the active form of psilocybin. Depending on the species, dried mushroom doses typically range from one to five grams. Wet mushroom dosages are 10 times higher at 10 to 50 grams. Psilocybin mushrooms are one of the most expensive hallucinogenic drugs; depending on the supply and demand, dried mushrooms start at $100 to $300 per ounce. Many mushroom abusers encounter financial crises because of taking mushrooms. During mushrooms addiction treatment, professional counselors and therapists help the mushroom user resolve his or her financial problems due to drug addiction.

Psilocybin and psilocin are both active hallucinogenic ingredients of psilocybin mushrooms. Both can be produced naturally through cultivation, but they can also be produced synthetically. There is no evidence, however, that synthetic psilocybin and psilocin are being manufactured in the United States.

What Happens After Ingestion?

The high experienced by taking psilocybin mushrooms depends on the dosage taken and the overall situation or environment during intake. In rituals, the drink is often accompanied by ritualistic dances and music, such as drum beating and chants. The effects can be felt within 30 to 90 minutes after ingestion, and the high lasts for four to six hours. The physical effects attained from ingesting psilocybin mushrooms are minimal considering the intense psychological experience associated with it.

The high is comparable to the one experienced when taking other psychedelic drugs, such as mescaline. The user often experiences hallucinations, including seeing distorted shapes, intense colors, and blending of sensory perceptions, also known as synesthesia. During this condition, psilocybin mushroom users have reported that they feel and hear colors and even see sounds. Mushrooms addiction treatment centers employ various programs and techniques to help the mushroom addict overcome multisensory problems formed during long-term abuse of the drug.

Risks and Side Effects

Fatal side effects due to psilocybin mushroom use or overdose are rare, being virtually nonexistent. This is also the same for other hallucinogenic drugs like marijuana and mescaline. Mushroom usage does induce psychological and physical side effects, including:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness
• Lack of coordination
• Derealization
• Depersonalization
• Hallucination
• Panic reactions
• Anxiety
• Psychosis

These side effects are addressed by mushrooms addiction treatment centers. Appropriate programs and therapies are conducted to prevent or reduce the re-occurrence of these consequences in the future.

Acute negative effects or experiences can also occur. These are called “bad trips” by mushroom users. Bad trips are usually experienced by first-time mushroom users, especially if a large dose is taken in an inappropriate environment or setting. The disconcerting and unpleasant experience can be amplified if the user is already nervous or has a preexisting psychological disorder, such as depression or generalized anxiety disorder. The user may feel intense fear, disturbing hallucinations, and nightmares even after the potency of the drug subsides.

Long-term psilocybin mushroom abuse can also lead to the development of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). This disorder is also called a “flashback,” as the user continues to perceive hallucinations long after mushroom ingestion. Some users of LSD, another hallucinogen, have been found to develop HPPD. HPPD is rare among pure psilocybin users, and it is often associated with polydrug abuse. Psilocybin mushrooms addiction treatment centers address HPPD and other existing psychological conditions associated with psilocybin mushroom abuse. These conditions must be addressed immediately to ensure proper recovery. Call and get immediate assistance and help regarding drug-induced disorders such as HPPD and psychosis.

Foragers of psilocybin mushrooms are also exposed to mushroom poisoning. There are hundreds of mushroom species that grow in the wild, and misidentification can lead to foraging of toxic mushrooms. Many inexperienced mushroom hunters do not realize that some extremely toxic mushroom species exist that strikingly resemble some psilocybin mushroom species.

Addiction Treatment: Detox and Rehabilitation

Psilocybin mushrooms, like other psychedelic drugs, do not induce addiction or physical dependence. Long-term mushroom abusers can develop mild to moderate tolerance to the drug, which can prompt the user to increase his or her daily mushroom dosage to generate the drug’s defined effect. Mild to moderate psychological dependence is also possible, especially if the person uses the mushroom for therapeutic purposes. Recreational mushroom abusers who use the drug to experience a good trip may continue to use and abuse psilocybin to maintain the euphoria experienced.

As psilocybin does not induce fatal withdrawal symptoms, psilocybin mushrooms detox does not require drug replacement therapy. However, as chemicals are stored in the fatty tissues of the body, abrupt discontinuation from the drug can cause mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. Slow reduction of the mushroom dosage used is often recommended to prevent adverse withdrawal side effects. Sensory stimulation is sometimes performed to reduce HPPD symptoms. Benzodiazepines are also administered during mushrooms detox to prevent or control seizures and agitation.

Detox alone is not sufficient to treat addiction. Mushrooms addiction treatment centers often suggest entering a mushrooms rehab facility to ensure continued rehabilitation and recovery. Inside a drug rehab, the mushroom abuser receives behavioral-based therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). After the mushrooms rehab, the patient has the option to continue receiving outpatient therapies and programs, including motivational interviewing, multidimensional family therapy, and motivational incentives.

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