Last updated : November 18, 2024
America’s growing interest in magic mushrooms, or shrooms, is becoming blatantly evident. This psychedelic drug is gaining popularity across the nation. It’s reminiscent of the “turn on, tune in, drop out” theory free flowing throughout the country during the 190s.
Back then, the government was deeply into researching the possibilities of using them for various reasons. Given all we’ve learned about the effect of illicit drugs on every facet of human life, some find it surprising that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) currently has at least five clinical trials underway.
They want to know how our veterans respond to treatment using psychotropic drugs. Dr. Rachel Yehuda, the director of mental health at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Bronx, leads one of the studies and describes new research as a “watershed moment.”
While many Americans may well hope that we give the plan a flush, her team is hopeful that research proves that using psilocybin mushrooms, aka magic mushrooms, or MDMA, otherwise known as Ecstasy, under the guidance of skilled therapists—and taken in a safe setting—could truly disrupt harmful patterns of behavior and thought.
Men and women who served in recent wars suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other conditions associated with enlisting to protect our freedoms are the patients. They’re being prescribed magic mushrooms coupled with psychotherapy as medical staff gathers data regarding any positive effect of using psychedelic experiences to treat the veteran community.
History is repeating itself
The government abruptly abandoned its research regarding the use of psychedelic drugs, which included magic mushrooms, LSD, and other hallucinogens, in the mid-60s due to a huge public backlash. These drugs had grown extremely popular among the nation’s young people who used them excessively at large public events, within commune communities, and everywhere else there were drug-using young Americans.
And since it was at the beginning of the “revolution,” that meant everywhere.
Our country still battles to hold off the effects of a nation whose young people seemingly treat drug use as a “rite of passage” to this day. Fentanyl, animal tranquilizers, and other illicit substances are responsible for thousands of deaths and show no signs of letting up despite efforts to combat usage. Lately, magic mushrooms are making headline after headline too.
Psilocybin mushrooms aren’t magic enough
Studies within the VA department and those currently being conducted within the civilian medical communities, as well, have branched out. In addition to psilocybin mushrooms, Amanita muscaria mushrooms have been found to have psychotropic effects on the brain too.
Users experience many mind-blowing sensations, including:
- A sense of weightlessness
- visual and auditory hypersensitivity
- Space distortion
- No sense of time
- Colorful hallucinations
These effects are caused by naturally occurring compounds within these mushrooms. They’re called ibotenic acid and muscimol. And they can be more toxic than fentanyl, cocaine, and PCP.
Nobody’s alerting the public though.
Manufacturers are marketing gummies and chocolates containing these dangerous compounds under health-related claims. They include helping stave off the effects of anxiety, depression, and other medical conditions. They vaguely reference clinical studies that relate to psilocybin mushrooms.
However, psilocybin mushrooms aren’t as toxic and produce different psychotropic effects. Psilocybin is an antidepressant. It binds to serotonin receptors activating a neural pathway that “mediates happiness and optimism.”
Psilocybin mushroom side effects are:
- Feeling euphoric
- Sensory distortion
- Visual and mental hallucinations
- Perceived spiritual experiences
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dilated pupils
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of coordination
- Headaches
- Excessive yawning
- Panic reactions
- Psychosis
Toxic doesn’t make the list though.
Amanita muscaria is a depressant
The polar opposite of psilocybin, amanita muscaria mushrooms affect the body more in the same way alcohol or benzodiazepines do. They suppress the central nervous system, meaning that even though users may experience “amazing” sensations, they can easily consume too many gummies or chocolates resulting in overdose and even death. Manufacturers should be held accountable for presenting this toxic substance to the public in such a harmless manner.
We need to alert the masses
The federal government needs to set some standards regarding magic mushroom marketing before things get any farther out of control. American citizens are dying due to the greed of some who wish to capitalize on products that are nothing short of harmful, mostly due to dishonest marketing.
In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) loosened restrictions on psilocybin so that scientists were free to conduct clinical trials using psychedelics as treatment. However, it remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance making it illegal to market the drug.
Amanita muscaria, on the other hand, isn’t found on the Controlled Substances list—only the state of Louisiana restricts sales. Moreover, it’s often marketed as a “dietary supplement.” Before presenting a product to the public in this way, manufacturers have a responsibility to the public to present safety data when applying to begin manufacturing their supplemental product.
So far, that’s not happening and the public is finding out the dangers of using magic mushrooms the hard way.
