Overview

Psilocybin is a chemical obtained from certain types of fresh or dried mushrooms.

1. What are the street names?

   Magic Mushrooms, Mushrooms, Shrooms

2. What does this drug look like?

   Mushrooms containing psilocybin are available fresh or dried and have long, slender stems topped by caps with dark gills on the underside. Fresh mushrooms have white or whitish-gray stems; the caps are dark brown around the edges and light brown or white in the center. Dried mushrooms are usually rusty brown with isolated areas of off-white.

3. How is this drug abused?

   Psilocybin mushrooms are ingested orally. They may also be brewed as a tea or added to other foods to mask their bitter flavor.

4. How does this drug affect the mind?

   The psychological consequences of psilocybin use include hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and psychosis also may occur, particularly if a user ingests a large dose.

5. How does this drug affect the body?

   The physical effects include: nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination.

6. What drugs cause similar effects?

   Psilocybin effects are similar to other hallucinogens, such as mescaline and peyote.

7. What are the overdose effects?

   Effects of overdose include: longer, more intense “trip” episodes, psychosis, and possible death. Abuse of psilocybin mushrooms could also lead to poisoning if one of the many varieties of poisonous mushrooms is incorrectly identified as a psilocybin mushroom.

8. What is the legal status in the United States?

   Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.

9. What are the common places of origin?

   Psilocybin mushrooms are found in Mexico, Central America, and the United States.