Youth|Other Drugs| Magic Mushrooms

There are many different kinds of magic mushrooms found around the world. It is illegal to possess, or purchase, magic mushrooms in New Zealand and they are classified as a class A drug. However, because they grow freely they are easy to collect if you know what you are looking for. Problem is, many of the mushrooms you will find are very poisonous and people getting ill from picking the wrong kind is very common.

The amount of the hallucinogenic compound (Psilocybin) in mushrooms varies widely from species to species. High doses of Magic Mushrooms can send you on a trip that you may not be prepared for and can be quite scary.

An average Magic Mushroom trip will last about 4 - 6 hours.

The strength of Magic Mushrooms varies considerably depending on the type, age, recent rain and soil conditions. Mushrooms from the same batch vary and some are more toxic than others, therefore it is impossible to know how much Psilocybin you have taken and this could result in you becoming highly intoxicated.

Short-term effects of magic mushrooms may include:

• Euphoria and well-being
• Hearing and visual hallucinations
• Distorted sense of time, space and body image
• Sometimes effects are unpredictable and intense, with an increased chance of panic attacks or bad trips. This is partly due to the difficulty in measuring dose and extent of other toxins. 
• Nausea and dizziness
• Poor co-ordination
• Increased body temperature and sweating, sometimes alternating with chills and shivering
• Paranoia

The main risks involved when using magic mushrooms is picking the wrong mushrooms and poisoning of users. Many poisonous mushrooms are very similar in appearance to Magic mushrooms and even the experts can find it difficult to distinguish one from another. Toxic mushrooms can cause nausea and diarrhea through to coma and death.

What are the long-term effects of magic mushrooms?

• Panic attacks
• Depression and anxiety
• Paranoid delusions