Magic Mushrooms
Magic Mushrooms
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Psilocybin or magic mushrooms are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. They belong to a group of drugs known as Psychedelics because of the changes experienced to perception, mood and thought. The key ingredient found in magic mushrooms is psilocybin. When psilocybin is taken, it is converted in the body to psilocin, which is the chemical with the psychoactive properties.
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Common Names
Shrooms
Mushies
Blue Meanies
Golden Tops
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How are they used?
Magic mushrooms are eaten fresh, cooked or brewed into a tea. The dried version is sometimes smoked, mixed with cannabis or tobacco.
Magic mushrooms look much like ordinary mushrooms. There are many different types of magic mushrooms. The most common ones in Ireland are called Fly-Agaric/Amanita Muscaria and Liberty Caps. Magic mushrooms look similar to poisonous mushrooms that can cause a person to become very sick and can result in death. They can also come as dried material in capsules. Synthetic psilocybin appears as a white crystalline powder that can be processed into tablets or capsules or dissolved in water.


Side Effects of Shrooms
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There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries risk.
Shrooms can affect everyone differently, based on:
• Size, weight and health
• Whether the person is used to taking it
• Whether other drugs are taken around the same time
• The amount taken
• The strength of the mushroom (varies depending on the type of mushroom)The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin in 30 minutes when eaten, or within 5–10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea and can last for approximately 4–6 hours.
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During this time, the person may experience:
Euphoria and well-being
Change in consciousness, mood, thought and perception (commonly called a trip)
Dilation of pupils
Perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations
Stomach discomfort and nausea
Headaches
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Increased body temperature
Breathing quickly
Vomiting
Facial flushes, sweating and chills
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Long-term effects:
Some people who regularly use magic mushrooms may experience flashbacks. A flashback is when a magic mushroom experience reoccurs, they are usually visual distortions that involve perceptual or emotional changes. Flashbacks can occur weeks, months or even years after the drug was last taken. This can be disturbing, especially if a frightening experience or hallucination is recalled. Flashbacks can be brought on by using other drugs, stress, tiredness or exercise and usually last for a minute or two.

Shrooms Overdose
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Bad Trips
Sometimes a person may experience the negative effects of magic mushrooms and have what is called a bad trip and may experience the following:
Unpleasant or intense hallucinations
Anxiety
Paranoia
Panic or fear
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Dependence & Tolerance
Tolerance develops rapidly with continued use, resulting in the drug having little to no effect with continued use.
Mixing Shrooms with other drugs
The effects of using Magic Mushrooms with other drugs – including over-the-counter or prescribed medications can be unpredictable and dangerous.