The Effects of Mushroom Abuse

Mushrooms, better known as “shrooms,” “caps” or “magic mushrooms,” are a type of drug. Though they are naturally occurring, they are not any less dangerous than synthetic drugs. Certain compounds are found in nature yet this makes them no less hazardous or lethal to a user. One can take for example snake venom, poison ivy or datura, as natural examples of dangerous substances.

Although lethality is debatable for hallucinogenic mushrooms, with folk tales telling of death resulting in ingesting as few as three or as many as 21, its dangers on mental health can be devastating to the addict’s life and can deteriorate a person’s career, outlook on life, and family ties. The effects of mushroom addiction can be widespread in a person’s life, with the effects of long-term abuse potentially affecting the person’s personality.

Short Term Effects of Mushrooms

They can be consumed raw or in a tea, and mushrooms’ effects are usually felt within 20 minutes of ingestion. The peak of the effects is experienced within 30 to 45 minutes, and short-term mushroom effects can last up to six hours.

Mushroom effects in the short-term can include:

• Rich hallucinations
• Feeling blissful
• Nausea
• Cramping
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• The impression that colors are more vibrant or that surfaces ripple
• Severe time distortion
• The impression of dissolving
• The impression that objects are merging together
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Horror

The gamut of experiences can be explained by the difference between “good” and “bad” trips. As much as a good trip can be likened to a wonderful dream, a bad trip can leave the mushroom abuser trapped in their worst nightmare, where there is no way of waking up. The only way to exit the nightmare is to let the mushrooms’ effects run their course. Bad trips have been described as absolutely terrifying and deeply frightening. Some have been known to act very strangely or harm themselves as well as others during such an experience. If you are looking to ease the transition back into a healthy, sober lifestyle and escape bad trips forever, we can help

Long-Term Effects of Mushrooms

Hallucinogenic mushrooms contain ibotenic acid, muscimol, and psilocybin depending on the type of mushroom.¹ The long-term effects of abuse depend on the person, but the risks results from the way hallucinogenic mushrooms affect the brain. Since the active components in mushrooms alter neuron interactions, prolonged use can lead to permanently affected brain chemistry.²

One of the major risks of continuing to use hallucinogenic mushrooms is that users run the risk of experiencing a “bad trip” which can lead to violent outbursts during which they do major harm to themselves.² “Bad trips” can also lead to horrifying and frightening experiences that trigger paranoia, anxiety, or even schizophrenia in those who are predisposed to developing the disorder. This may lead to symptoms such as:²

• Violent outbursts during usage
• Persistent psychosis
• Paranoia
• Visual disturbances
• Disorganized thinking
• Mood changes
• Worsening anxiety or bipolar disorder
• Worsening or triggered schizophrenia

Can you Die from taking Mushrooms?

“Since mushrooms aren’t regulated, it is entirely possible to consume a poisonous mushroom instead of a hallucinogenic one.”Since mushrooms aren’t regulated, it is entirely possible to consume a poisonous mushroom instead of a hallucinogenic one. This is intensely dangerous, as the effects of hallucinogenic mushroom are damaging yet they aren’t generally lethal; however, there are many types of mushrooms that are extremely lethal. If for any reason you believe you have consumed a poisonous mushroom, a trip to the emergency room is mandatory as these mushrooms can be deadly and can kill quickly. Taking the wrong type of mushroom can result in bradycardia, incontinence, hypotension, liver failure and shock. Permanent brain damage has also been documented with high dosages of certain mushrooms used as recreational drugs. For more information, visit the poison control website, or call their hotline on 1-800-222-1222.

While some short-term effects for the hallucinogenic type of mushrooms can seem like little more than a nuisance, some long-term mushroom effects such as sudden hallucinations, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, and flashbacks, can result in as little as one use. There have been accounts of irreversible results on personality, rendering the user’s personality changed forever. To get rid of these dangerous effects, drug rehabilitation can help.

Medicinal Uses for Mushrooms (Psilocybin)

Recent studies by the John Hopkins School of Medicine have documented the positive effects of psilocybin in very precise dosages administered to individuals with very specific mindsets and religious histories. In this setting, the mushrooms were proven to be beneficial to an overall sense of well-being and a deeper connection to the spiritual world. This study has not yet been replicated, and it was conducted under very specific and regulated conditions. Those in the study who experienced high doses in the starting stages were found to experience the effects of mushrooms with great anxiety and fear, whereas those fed smaller amounts coped better with increasing amounts of mushrooms.

Belief of medicinal mushrooms’ effects dates back to the 1960s where the active component was synthesized and marketed by Sandoz for use in humans to treat compulsive disorders. There have been a mounting number of studies exploring their potential medicinal uses in the past years yet no conclusive evidence has been able to vouch for their safety and usefulness in conventional medicine. It’s not too late to treat your mushrooms abuse, there are lots of treatment options available. Whether you prefer inpatient treatment or outpatient programs, just call us and we will help you.

Treatment for Mushrooms Abuse

Although the effects of mushroom abuse are greatly varied and can take many faces, mushrooms are still a serious drug that can bring irreversible and deplorable consequences. If you think a relative or friend might be experiencing the effects of mushroom abuse, overdose on mushrooms, please contact us at . We can help.

Sources

1. Stevelska, K. (2013). Fungal hallucinogens psilocin, ibotenic acid, and muscimol: analytical methods and biologic activities. Ther Drug Monit, 35(4), 420-442.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2015). Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs: How Do Hallucinogens (LSD, Psilocybin, Peyote, DMT, and Ayahuasca) Affect the Brain and Body?