Essay On Hallucinogenic Mushrooms

Hallucinogenic mushrooms, or shrooms, are varieties of mushrooms that contain psilocybin and psilocin. People take shrooms fresh or dried by eating them or brewing them into tea and drinking them. This induces feelings of euphoria and altered perceptions of reality. In large doses, mushrooms have the same effects as LSD; however, too large a dose often results in psychosis. Consistent users will build up a tolerance to psilocybin and psilocin, meaning they’d have to take increased amounts to feel the affects, greatly increasing the possibility of negative side effects. Negative side effects include but are not limited to, schizophrenia and psychosis.

While hallucinogenic mushrooms are not poisonous, many other varieties of mushrooms are. As it is difficult to tell what type of mushroom is which, people often consume poisonous mushrooms, thinking they are hallucinogenic mushrooms. They are also illegal in the United States, as of 1971. Possession or use of …show more content…
And, larger doses increases the possibility of developing negative side effects such as schizophrenia and/or psychosis. Another long term side effect is flashbacks to hallucinations experienced while “high”, these flashbacks can occur anywhere from a few days after intoxication to months afterwards.

Hallucinogenic mushrooms are illegal in the U.S. for a reason, there are many short and long term side effects, many of them life threatening. Short term effects are mostly minor, such as nausea and drowsiness. However, long term effects can be much more dangerous. People who use shrooms are more likely to develop schizophrenia and psychosis. Also, many varieties of mushrooms that are sold as hallucinogens are actually poisonous, causing severe illness and even death after