Psilocybin is a psychedelic substance produced by a wide variety of fungal species. The more than 200 kinds of mushrooms that are responsible for the production of psilocybin are collectively known as mushrooms or magic mushrooms. These powerful hallucinogens produce mind-altering effects when consumed.
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Psilocybin is a drug that is chemically extracted from mushrooms. This is not an over-the-counter drug, so people buy it in the form of dried or fresh mushrooms and sometimes in the form of powdered capsules. The drug contains active hallucinogens, and the strength of the drug depends on the type of mushroom and whether the drug comes from fresh or dried mushrooms..
Mushrooms have been used for centuries in Europe to perform divinatory and spiritual ceremonies to increase sensitivity and awareness. In fact, images found on prehistoric murals and cave paintings in Spain and Algeria suggest that human use of mushrooms far predates recorded history. During the sixties, the use of psilocybin also became popular in Latin American countries and especially in the United States. Today, many adolescents and young people seek out magic mushrooms in an effort to produce the hallucinogenic and psychedelic effects that result from their use..
Psilocybin can be found in hundreds of species of mushrooms. These species are characterized by being dark spore fungi that grow in tropical and subtropical environments. They are found in meadows and forests, as these mushrooms grow mainly in humid areas, riddled with plant debris or compost.
Most people take psilocybin to feel more relaxed both mentally and physically. However, due to its hallucinogenic characteristics, the drug causes disturbances in the mind, causing people to lose their sense of reality. When someone ingests one of these mushrooms, psilocybin produces mind-altering effects, similar to drugs like mescaline and LSD. Psilocybin is classified as a hallucinogenic or psychedelic drug.
Psilocybin is a prodrug that, once ingested, is rapidly converted by the body into psilocin, a chemical that produces euphoria, visual and mental hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and experiences that users qualify as "spiritual" . Unfortunately they can include adverse reactions, such as nausea and panic attacks..
Like other types of hallucinogenic drugs, psilocybin can produce numerous euphoric and psychedelic effects. The intensity and duration of its effects are variable, depending on the species or type of fungal culture, as well as the dose, individual physiology and context..
Once ingested, psilocybin is rapidly metabolized to psilocin, which in turn acts on serotonin receptors in the brain. Its effects usually last between two and six hours, although for users the effects may seem much longer, since this drug can distort the perception of time.
Psilocybin has low toxicity and harm potential. Even so, the possession of mushrooms containing psilocybin has been banned in most countries, and it has been classified as a drug by most national anti-drug laws..
The effects of taking psilocybin can vary and often depend on the person and the context in which the drug is used. The most common effects are:
Temporary increases in blood pressure caused by the drug may be a risk factor for users with a history of pre-existing hypertension..
Reported side effects of psilocybin use include:
The effects of magic mushrooms cannot be foreseen until the substance has already been taken. Unfortunately, as with most hallucinogenic drugs, the effects of psilocybin are unreliable and unpredictable. Some users experience a pleasant feeling of spiritual or other euphoria, while others experience a "bad trip" that can cause severe paranoid symptoms, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and feelings of chaos.
The effects of psilocybin are mostly short-lived. The compound tends to wear off within a few hours and there are no known serious side effects. But there is a high risk of toxicity and the consumption of these mushrooms are potentially harmful despite not causing excessively serious side effects.
The long-term effects associated with psilocybin use have not really been well defined yet. Some sources suggest that there are few long-term harmful effects. However, cases of hallucinogen-induced persistent perception disorder have been reported. This is a clinical disorder that occurs in a small number of users of hallucinogens (about 4.2%), it consists of suffering "flashbacks", which means that the person experiences the consumption of psilocybin again despite not being taking it for quite some time. This can be distressing and can be misdiagnosed as schizophrenia, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), brain tumors, or head trauma..
Little is known about the causes of this disorder, but it appears to be more likely to occur in individuals who:
The toxicity of the substance is the main potential hazard when consuming magic mushrooms. While the lethal dose is relatively high, about 1.5 times that of caffeine, psilocybin can be deadly if enough mushrooms containing the drug are consumed..
If users consume mushrooms together with other drugs or when they experience adverse reactions to this substance, they may require urgent medical care. But most of the time, hospitalization occurs as a result of a "bad trip" or having a severe panic attack while under the influence of the drug. All of these symptoms can lead to self-harm, suicide, or episodes of acute psychosis that pose a serious risk to the user or others..
Physical dependence is not the same as addiction, and it is a normal response to habitual drug use, even when taking a medicine prescribed by a doctor. The body adapts to the presence of the substance and withdrawal symptoms can occur when use stops. A person addicted to a drug may be physically dependent, but the presence of physical dependence alone does not constitute an addiction..
Psychological dependence on drugs appears when people feel that they must take the drug to deal with everyday stressors. However, a purely psychological dependence does not produce withdrawal symptoms in the same way as physical dependence. Unfortunately, this phenomenon serves as the basis for the compulsion to take the substance, as well as for any mood swings that arise in the absence of the drug..
The risk of developing a physical or psychological dependence on psilocybin appears to be relatively low, although it can lead to problematic use.
People who use this substance on a recurring basis usually have the following characteristics:
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