What You Need to Know about Mushrooms

What You Need to Know about Mushrooms

One of the recent trends that have become prevalent again is the use of mushrooms. Not the kind of mushrooms that you sauté up into a delicious meal. The kind of mushrooms that are psychedelic in nature to make a person “trip”. Mushrooms of this variety have gone in and out of popularity due to the difficulty of obtaining them and the rise of other drugs. 

Ever since the state of Colorado has become the subject of legalizing magic mushrooms for the use of treating depression, there have been many social media posts and stand-up comedy bits making mushrooms appeal to people of all ages, including teens. The problem with mushrooms that take you on a psychedelic ride, is that if misused, it can cause more harm than good. Although the “trip” of mushrooms is mostly heard as an epic experience, there is the possibility that someone under the influence of mushrooms may feel like they are living in a nightmare that they cannot wake up from until the drug wears off. 

What is the ingredient in mushrooms which is psychedelic?

Psilocybin is a psychedelic prodrug compound that can be found in over 200 species of mushrooms which brings about different potency and duration depending on said species. The psilocybin then rapidly metabolizes into psilocin after being ingested which causes the mind-altering effects in the serotonin receptors of the brain. Mental and visual hallucinations along with euphoria will become onset in around 15-20 minutes after consumption for an approximate 6-hour journey – unless they have a bad experience causing the adverse effects of nausea and panic attacks to develop. 

What is Colorado’s role with mushrooms?

While many people believe that Colorado is trying to get mushrooms legalized, the truth is that they are simply trying to decriminalize mushrooms. Decriminalization means when a person is found under the influence of mushrooms or in possession of them, law enforcement has no jurisdiction to jail or try to prosecute them. The first step that Colorado took to get marijuana legalized was to first decriminalize it back in 2005, and there is a possibility that they may be trying this same process with mushrooms next. Only the city of Denver has decriminalization of mushrooms and it would take a ballot measure to approve the legalization process.

What do mushrooms have to do with depression?

Psilocybin has components that have been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression. The Food and Drug Administration is trying to capitalize on helping to eliminate depression by developing a psilocybin-based drug that could help the brain to change up the chemical imbalance caused by depression. A coffee house in Denver, Colorado also wishes to produce psilocybin infused coffee to decrease depression upon approval from the state and the FDA. 

What are the negative effects of mushrooms?

There is a significant difference between mushrooms and other mind-altering drugs in the way they are received in the brain. Mushrooms, for instance, are thought of as more of a novelty type of drug, in the same way, LSD or mescaline produces effects because of the psychedelic “trip” which they are well-known for. Unlike the dangerous overdosing drugs such as opiates and methamphetamines, physically overdosing on mushrooms will not happen unless someone goes out to pick their own mushrooms and mistakes one with psilocybin for one that is poisonous. The dangers of chronic mushroom use can cause psychological overdoes which can create some very serious symptoms including intense panic attacks, extreme paranoia, increased delusions, loss of control of thoughts, a frightening outlook on life, and worse complete psychosis. The reality of a person who is in psychosis can be determined by their unexplained visual disturbances, a disorganized thought process, significant changes in mood, and flashbacks that cause them uncontrollable paranoia, delusion, and hallucinations.  

Are mushrooms addictive?

Using mushrooms one or two times will probably not affect someone too badly although drugs are not something to mess around with even recreationally since there is no clear indication of what could happen once they are consumed. While euphoria may be at the top of the list of why someone may decide to use mushrooms, there is the potential to abuse them just like anything else becomes enjoyable. Mushrooms are on the lower scale of drug toxicity which means that physical withdrawal is not usually a concern, but the psychological withdrawal can be pretty brutal. Trying to regain their spiritual experience or seek a higher level of consciousness can be their justification for abusing mushrooms. The problem with misusing mushrooms is that tolerance for psilocybin is built right away and will most likely lessen mind-altering effects experienced like the time before while creating psychological problems they did not anticipate. 

Mushrooms may be coming back into popularity because of the recognition they are getting in the news, but the best thing you can do is to be knowledgeable about the dangers associated with them and then find a way to talk to your kids about what mushrooms really entail. What may be expected as one epic experience for one person could turn into a bad trip that haunts someone else for a lifetime.

Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, Detox Center of Colorado offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, Detox Center of Colorado fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information: 303-536-5463

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