Are Psilocybin Mushrooms Addictive? Here’s What Science Says
Some hallucinogenic mushrooms are grown for illegal purposes, but they can also be found in the wild. There are several ways to consume mushrooms that contain psilocybin. Mushrooms are typically consumed either fresh or dried, combined with other foods to mask their taste, or made into a tea. These mushrooms are in use by several old civilizations for spiritual healing and it is still an emerging psychotherapy. Psilocybin is a prominent part of psychedelic-assisted therapy, however, whether psychedelics are addictive is still a major concern. In this blog we will find out “Are psilocybin mushrooms addictive” in detail.
What are Psilocybin Mushrooms?
Magic mushrooms are a type of psychedelic mushroom containing a hallucinogenic substance known as psilocybin. Over 100 various types of mushrooms containing psilocybin can be found naturally. In addition to psilocybin, many of these also include other psychoactive drugs.
Are Psilocybin Mushrooms Addictive?
Now, you might ask, can you get addicted to magic mushrooms even if you abuse these substances? And the answer is “Yes”. Psilocybin mushrooms are addictive in nature and almost 9.6% of Americans used them for addiction at some point of their lives.
However, not all mushrooms are suitable for human consumption.
How Does Mushroom Addiction Work in Your Brain?
Usually, people ingest magic mushrooms that contain psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine). The different physiological and hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin are believed to be caused by interactions with the serotonergic neurotransmitter system in our brain.
The brain's neurotransmitters can be altered by magic mushrooms, leading to activation of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine hormone. One may become "high" as a result of this aberrant synthesis of these feel-good hormones. A person who regularly uses mushrooms may develop an addiction to them because their brain may grow reliant on them to create these hormones.
Problems Associated with Psilocybin Mushroom Addiction
Addictions cause prominent changes in our body, thus, are psilocybin mushrooms addictive can be comprehended through bodily effects caused by consuming excessive amounts of magic mushrooms.
Weak immune system: Over time, magic mushrooms target a person's immune system. As everyone is aware, the brain is in charge of ensuring that the body functions properly. Over time, magic mushrooms can impair the immune system and interfere with the brain's normal processes.
Panic attacks: Some people who regularly take magic mushrooms experience anxiety, panic attacks, Decreased reaction to terror, and even paranoia.
Heart issues: Problems related to the heart, such elevated heart rate, hypertension, or hypotension
Muscle coordination problems: Pupil dilation is noticeable, tremors, and heightened reflexes.
Confusion: Euphoria, dissociation (feeling as though things are not real, intense changes in perception of time (time seems to move much more slowly)
Hallucinations: Psilocybin addiction may cause intense sensual experiences including vivid hallucinations.
Psilocybin tolerance: After severe addiction of psilocybin mushrooms, a person may develop psilocybin tolerance in which the brain normalizes the changes and a person may not feel painful symptoms after consuming mushrooms.
Psilocybin Mushrooms Addiction: Bad Trip Vs. Good Trip
When you consume mushrooms, you may have negative hallucinations, panic, and paranoia (a "bad trip") or moderate hallucinations and feeling of self-worth (good trip).
Good trip
Good trip due to magic mushroom consumption results in moderate hallucinations, changed perceptions, and a sense of harmony with your surroundings. For instance, during psychedelic-assisted therapy, a trained therapist offers a certain amount of psilocybin dosage that causes altered state of consciousness to treat various mental issues. On the other hand, some people consume magic mushrooms to gain spirituality or an escape from the real world for a few hours.
Bad trip
Are psilocybin mushrooms addictive often linked to bad trips gained after consuming magic mushrooms. Negative psychological consequences are collectively referred to as "bad trips." Confusion, disorientation, anguish, panic, or paranoia are some examples of these subjectively unpleasant sensations. They are frequently accompanied with frightening hallucinations that are hard to tell apart from reality.
What may trigger the bad trip?
The following are some of the many variables that may affect the drug's effects:
Your state of mind at the moment of consumption.
the quantity or strength of the mushrooms consumed.
the environment in which you use the medicine.
Past mushroom experiences.
Does Psilocybin Mushroom Addiction Lead to Physical Dependance?
There are no instances of physical dependence resulting from long-term psilocybin use (showing both tolerance and withdrawal); rather, tolerance most likely happens on its own in regular users. People under the influence of drugs are undoubtedly more likely to make poor decisions and be involved in accidents due to the intense sensory distortions that the drug produces. Additionally, because of the drug's hallucinogenic effects, there may be rare cases of multiple emotional distress or even possible insanity.
Are Psychedelics Addictive and Linked with Casualties?
Are psilocybin mushrooms addictive, sometimes linked with chances of casualties. So the answer is “No”, as people who have died after taking magic mushrooms are known to have taken other potentially harmful drugs in addition to the mushrooms, there don't seem to be any case studies of deaths caused by overdose on magic mushrooms alone. Naturally, this does not imply that overdosing to the point of serious danger is impossible.
Conclusion
Even though magic mushrooms are a naturally occurring chemical, are psilocybin mushrooms addictive still an important question as taking them can expose a person to a number of concerns relating to their physical and mental health. There are more than 100 kinds and variations of magic mushrooms. Psychoactive chemical substances found in all of these mushrooms have the ability to induce euphoria, hallucinations, and a "high." On the other hand, psychedelic-assisted therapy involves magic mushroom dosage under the supervision of a therapist. Hence we can conclude that psilocybin mushrooms are addictive but they are used to treat mental problems if provided under control setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is meant by cross-tolerance in addiction?
Significant tolerance is quickly developed by repeated mushroom consumption. A person may be tolerant to similar hallucinogens, such LSD, if they are tolerant to psilocybin. We call this cross-tolerance.
Q2. Are psilocybin mushrooms addictive and how long does a trip last?
Yes, psilocybin mushrooms are addictive and a trip can last anywhere from three to six hours, and intoxication typically happens between twenty minutes and two hours after use.
Q3. Does the brain suffer from magic mushrooms?
Psilocybin, according to research, temporarily interferes with a brain network that forms an individual's sense of self.
