There are so many drugs in the world that, if we made a list, it would be virtually endless. And although substances such as cocaine and cannabis are among the most popular, there are many others that also find their niche among users. One of these drugs is, in fact, one of the oldest. We are referring to hallucinogenic mushrooms, whose use is mainly found among young people and which, like all drugs, may require treatment at a centre. In today’s article, we will look at their origin and composition, and the dangers arising from their use.
What are hallucinogenic mushrooms?
The existence of these fungi dates back several millennia before Christ. In Central America, ancient cultures used these mushrooms mainly for mystical and religious purposes. Archaeological records have revealed how, in the past, rituals were carried out by consuming these hallucinogens to reach altered states of consciousness for spiritual purposes. It is through this ancient knowledge that the effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms are known today. However, nowadays their use has lost this aura of mysticism and has shifted to the pursuit of an extrasensory experience purely for pleasure.
To understand the effects produced by these mushrooms, we must focus on what is responsible for those effects. This is psilocybin, the main ingredient in these fungi and the cause of hallucinations. There are currently more than 200 mushrooms that contain this compound and all of them produce the effects already mentioned. Psilocybin has psychoactive properties and is actually a precursor that is transformed into psilocin when ingested and metabolised. It is then that it acts on the brain with psychedelic effects. Its binding to serotonin receptors and the production of dopamine explain the hallucinations.
How do they act in the body?
Hallucinogenic mushrooms can take between 20 and 90 minutes to take effect, as this is the time they need to be digested, pass through the liver and reach the bloodstream. The effects produced usually last between 3 and 6 hours. A common recreational dose is estimated to range between 10 and 50 milligrams of psilocybin. In turn, one gram of hallucinogenic mushrooms contains one milligram of this compound. Even so, each person has a different metabolism. Some individuals are more sensitive than others to psilocybin and can experience hallucinations with a very small dose.
Although hallucinations are the desired effect when consuming this drug, there are many other effects that also appear. Some may be rather pleasant, while others can become very unpleasant and even dangerous. Let us see what happens in the body when consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms.
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Hallucinations and sensory alterations
Hallucinations are the main effect produced by the use of these mushrooms. These experiences can be of all kinds: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory and even olfactory. In addition, normal perception is altered, which further intensifies the hallucinations. In this way, it is possible to see common objects in colours that do not correspond or perceive them as distorted shapes, to appreciate sounds more intensely that in an unaltered state would not draw attention, and so on. In most cases, these sensory experiences are positive in nature and are experienced pleasantly. However, on some occasions, the person’s mood and the state induced by the mushrooms can turn the hallucinations into a long-lasting bad “trip”.
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Sense of wellbeing
As with other drugs, hallucinogenic mushrooms make the user open up more and become more creative. In this way, they feel peace and a sense of being in tune with other people and objects. In addition, they also feel the need to open up and share this very pleasant feeling with others.
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A state of relaxation or anxiety
Normally, the effects of using hallucinogenic mushrooms occur in a state of deep relaxation. However, sometimes this is not the case. There are people who claim to have experienced sudden periods of anxiety during the “trip”. These phases may last only a few minutes or take up the entire psychedelic experience. In this case, the sensations are very unpleasant, so instead of experiencing it as something magical, it becomes a terrible moment that cannot be avoided.
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Physiological changes
Other side effects of using this drug are the physiological changes that occur. These include nausea, tachycardia, pupil dilation and rapid breathing. Despite this, hallucinogenic mushrooms do not cause much more serious physiological changes, so they are not as dangerous as other drugs.
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Undesired effects
In addition to hallucinations and changes in perception and thinking, other very unpleasant effects may also appear. One of the most common is paranoia, that is, the conviction of being pursued or being the target of some kind of conspiracy. This experience can be almost psychotic and become established if it is severe enough. In addition, in the long term, a bad experience with hallucinogenic mushrooms can lead to persistent psychotic episodes with hallucinations, delusions and emotional disorders such as, for example, major depression. That is why you must be careful, as misuse of this drug can leave personality after-effects that are difficult to reverse.
CCAdicciones is an addiction treatment centre where we have the best professionals to help you if you are addicted to any drug or have any other addiction. Get in touch with us if you think you need help to regain control of your life.
