Mushrooms
Mushrooms, also called psychedelic mushrooms, contain psilocybin and psilocin. When consumed, the chemicals in them have hallucinogenic effects. Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse. There is currently no accepted medical use and no accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
Street names:
- Magic Mushrooms
- Shrooms
History
The psychedelic use of mushrooms has been documented back thousands of years. In 1955, the first publicized U.S. mushrooms ceremony was held, which piqued the interest of Timothy Leary. He traveled to Mexico, brought them back and began promoting their use for psychedelic and religious purposes. Their popularity began to grow in the United States.
Trends of Use
The wide availability and ease of access has made mushrooms the most widely used drug among hallucinogens. Unfortunately, misidentifying them as psilocybin mushrooms has a high risk of poisoning, if one of the many varieties of poisonous mushrooms, that look similar, are consumed.
Effects include:
- Euphoria
- Altered thinking processes
- Closed and open-eye visuals
- Synesthesia
- Altered sense of time
- Spiritual experiences
Symptoms of Use
Effects on the mind:
- Hallucinations
- Inability to discern fantasy from reality
- Panic reactions
- Psychosis
Effects on the body:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Lack of coordination
Abuse & Addiction
Mushrooms taste bitter and abusers seek to mask the taste by first drying them into a powder. Then, the powder is brewed to make a tea. Other methods are to use fresh pieces or dried powder in food.
Someone who abuses the substance can develop a psychological addiction, but a physical addiction is unlikely, as chemicals in mushrooms rarely develop into a physical dependence.
Mushroom addiction symptoms develop when a user feels an increasing psychological need for the substances. For some, their tolerance level is high, so to experience the same effects, the craving for more develops. At times, the previous results cannot be reached no matter how much of them are ingested. Risk of psychosis and physical damage in these types of situations greatly increases, as using more of the mushrooms without any real knowledge of the potency, carries overdose risks.
Detoxification and Withdrawal
Habitual users experience the following withdrawal symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Cravings
- Flashbacks
Since there is no physiological dependence on mushrooms, the treatment for addiction concentrates more on the psychological aspect. Habitual use of mushrooms can develop into a myriad of mental illness issues such as psychosis and paranoia. Treatment involves getting the abuser on a healthy diet and treating any mental health issues with medication and therapy. Therapy to control habitual and compulsive tendencies is recommended.
Qualified mental health professionals are recommended to ensure no long-term mental health illnesses have developed due to mushroom abuse. Supervised medications may be needed to control anxiety and depression. If psychosis or flashbacks are acute or severe, long-term supervision may be necessary.
Contact us to discuss a mushroom addiction situation that involves you or a loved one. We have staff who are trained to handle these situations. We determine the best course of treatment, layout the plan and implement it for optimal results. Call us at 877-855-3470 to discuss how we can help you out of a difficult addiction situation. A clean and sober life is possible with treatment, let us show you how we can assist.