Psilocybin Mushrooms

1. Psilocybin Mushrooms By: Ben Vega

2. Psilocybin Mushrooms • Street names include caps, mushrooms, shrooms, magic mushrooms, mushies, boomers, cubes, psilocybin and psilocin. • Chemical Name: 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-ol dihydrogen phosphate ester • Chemical Formula: C12H17N2O4P.

3. Classification • Psilocybin Mushrooms are classified as Hallucinogens • Psilocybin and Psilocin are Schedule 1 drugs

4. History • The use of hallucinogenic Mushrooms dates back to 1000-500 B.C. • Ancient cultures such as the Mixtec and the Aztec both had gods that were related to the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms, Piltzinctecuhtli and Xochipili • These ancient cultures used these mushrooms for their hallucinogenic properties in rituals and ceremonies. • It was not until the Europeans arrived with cattle that the mushrooms found their way to what is now the U.S. • In the 20th Century there was much debate as to whether these mushrooms were truly hallucinogenic and resulted in many studies about them • Mushrooms became a big part of the psychedelic movement in the 60’s and resulted in psilocybin and psilocin becoming illegal in the U.S. in 1968 and were added to the Controlled Substance Act later on. • Recreational use continued and only recently has it become the subject of study again.

5. Production • The main chemical Psilocybin can be synthesized but it is more easily obtained naturally through growing mushrooms • Growing mushrooms is more common in European countries where laws on Psilocybin mushrooms are not as strict as in the U.S. • These mushrooms find there way to the U.S. through sale on the internet.

6. The User • Common users are teens in social situations • The common users take this drug to feel a sense of Euphoria as well as to escape reality. • The drug is usually grown personally or obtained over the internet from European sellers

7. Affects • The main route of administration of this drug is ingestion in either solid or liquid form. The mushrooms can be eaten or brewed into tea. • Psilocybin and psilocin act similar to the brains neurotransmitters and affect perception causing hallucinations and euphoria • Mushrooms have a low risk of physiological dependence but still have a risk psychological dependence. • Currently there is no accepted medical use for psilocybin mushrooms.

8. Risks • A common health risk as well as adverse psychological effect is experiencing “flashbacks” called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). • The LD50 for rabbits is 12.5mg/kg i.v.

9. Detection • In order to be detected the psilocybin and psilocin must be tested for specifically as they will not usually show up on normal drug tests. • Can be tested for in blood and urine • Psilocybin becomes psilocin in the body and most of it excretes from the body within 8 hours but traces can remain for up to 7 days

10. Consequences • Treatment for hallucinogens includes support in quiet rooms with little sensory stimulation • Psilocybin and psilocin are illegal so mushrooms containing them are also illegal. However having spores of these mushrooms are not illegal in most states but cultivating them is.