Other Drugs / Question
Published: June 19, 2001

Dear TeenHealthFX,

What are the effects of magic mushrooms?

Signed: Magic Mushroom Effects

Dear Magic Mushroom Effects,

 

First and most important, if you are considering using mushrooms or any kind of drug, please reconsider. Drugs are not good and can mess up your life not only physically, but psychologically too.

 

Magic mushrooms (also known as Psilocybin and Shrooms), are hallucinogenic or psychedelic drugs, with effects similar to those of LSD. The drug causes the user to experience an altered state of reality. Mushrooms take effect in a much shorter time then LSD (usually after 30 minutes) and last for a shorter amount of time (usually between 4 and 6 hours).

 

As with most drugs, the effects produced are dependent on the dose used, the personality of the user, and the setting in which the drug is taken. At low doses the user can experience euphoria, visual distortions and a sense of being detached from one's own body. At higher doses the user experiences more physical sensations, such as light-headedness and numbness in various body parts, nausea, anxiety and vivid hallucinations.

 

The hallucinations can be so intense, that they are clinically considered the same as a brief psychotic episode. This is more common after repeated doses or if the user is inexperienced or has significant personal problems to begin with. Some people have been known to experience flash backs to the original episode, but these usually disappear after a short time.

 

There is no significant withdrawal or physical dependence associated with magic mushrooms. Although, as with LSD tolerance rapidly develops and the next time it may take twice the original dose to produce the same effect.

 

A concerning danger associated with magic mushrooms is being able to distinguish hallucinogenic mushrooms from poisonous and sometimes deadly ones. To the untrained eye, it can be very difficult and sometimes impossible.

 

You should be aware that while it is not illegal to pick and possess the mushrooms, it is illegal to prepare them for use as a drug. "Preparing", includes any form of cooking, grilling or brewing the stems to drink as tea. When prepared they are considered a class A felony which carries significant prison time if convicted.

Signed: TeenHealthFX

While 93% of teenage women report that their first intercourse was voluntary, one-quarter of these young women report that it was unwanted. ⁷