THE DRUG FILE
PSILOCYBIN
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Street Names
- magic mushrooms
- mushrooms
- shrooms
Description
Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that can be found in certain types of mushrooms. It can come in the form of whole mushrooms, or as a brown powder. As well, it sometimes comes in the form of a white powder, or in a tablet when it has been made in an illegal lab. Psilocybin can be ingested, snorted, smoked or injected. The most common way of taking psilocybin is by ingesting it. It can also be brewed into teas. Psilocybin acts on the brain by disrupting the levels of serotonin in the brain. It does this by activating the brain's receptors for serotonin. This can affect a person’s mood, appetite and perceptions.
Origin and medical usage
Historically, psilocybin mushrooms were found in Mexico and Central America, where they were used by the Aztecs and Natives because they felt that the hallucinations which resulted were of religious significance. Today, they have no accepted usage. Psilocybin mushrooms are grown naturally and then dried.
Short-term effects
The short-term effects of psilocybin include, but are not limited to, confusion, a relaxed feeling, dry mouth, numbness of mouth, distorted perceptions, nausea, dilated pupils, paranoia, anxiety, convulsions, muscle weakness, sensation of being separate from surroundings, and sensations of being heavy or light.
Long-term effects
Long-term use of psilocybin may cause psychosis or paranoid schizophrenia.
Withdrawal
There are no significant withdrawal symptoms, however, an individual may become psychologically dependent on the drug.
Legal status
Having psilocybin in your possession is a criminal offence. Trafficking it, having it for the purpose of trafficking, producing it, or importing and exporting it are all criminal offences.
Signs that a person might be using
Signs that a person may be using psilocybin may include, but are not limited to, dilated pupils, slurred speech, hallucinations, sleepiness, difficulty communicating, acting paranoid or confused, unusual change in mood or behaviour, having a distorted view of time or self, withdrawing from family and friends, and a decline in school or work performance.
