Dear Reader,

Psilocybin mushrooms (a.k.a. 'shrooms, "Magic" mushrooms) are a hallucinogen that are either eaten in their dried mushroom form or consumed as a white powder. The term "hallucinogen" means that taking this drug causes the user to experience an altered sense of reality, a.k.a. "tripping." Used in smaller amounts, Psilocybin mushrooms produce a feeling of relaxation and visual distortions. For example, users experience a sensation of being detached from their body and observing themselves, see brilliant arrangements of color and light, or see fantastical images before them. In larger doses, users may experience physical sensations, such as lightheadedness; numbness of the tongue, lips, and mouth; shivering or sweating; nausea; and, anxiety. Use of this drug can also change one's perception of time, making minutes seem like hours.

In general, a trip begins with some feelings of nausea, jitteriness, and a mild increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. However, if a user experiences anxiety or fear during a trip, the body's reactions to these feelings may be difficult to endure. For this reason, it's important to consider where and with whom one might try this drug. When experimenting with any drug, it is essential to be in a safe environment with people you trust, preferably some who are not using any alcohol or other drugs.

Psilocybin mushrooms do not generally cause dangerous physical reactions, nor is addiction or physical dependence likely. However, individual users' experiences vary widely, based on a number of factors. A person's expectations, physical and/or emotional health, previous drug experiences, mood, the amount of the drug consumed, and the setting all play a part in what kind of effects the drug produces. In addition, pre-existing mental conditions, such as depression, can cause unpredictable reactions to Psilocybin mushrooms, as can use with another drug, such as marijuana. Hallucinations range from the intriguing and pleasurable to the frightening and anxiety producing. Intense experiences can be physically and emotionally uncomfortable, and the memory may stay with the user for a long time. Flashbacks of trips are also common among frequent users of the drug.

It is difficult to identify the Psilocybin variety of mushrooms, both in the wild and in its dried form. Taking the wrong type of mushroom could cause severe health problems. There are similar-looking fungi that cause hallucinations, but which are much more dangerous. Taking toxic mushrooms by accident is, in fact, the single most dangerous thing about mushroom use: the wrong type can be deadly.

The reactions Psilocybin mushrooms and LSD produce are similar. However, LSD's effects last longer. Also, drugs said to be LSD are more likely to contain other chemicals. Sometimes, LSD is mixed with strychnine, which is poisonous, or PCP (a.k.a. angel dust). PCP, also a hallucinogen, is much more dangerous than either LSD or Psilocybin mushrooms.

You asked whether or not Psilocybin mushrooms could be laced with LSD. LSD is most commonly used in one of two forms. It is either absorbed in its liquid form onto a piece of paper (a blotter), and chewed or taken as a pill. It may be possible to soak Psilocybin mushrooms in this liquid, or mix LSD with Psilocybin in its powdered form.

For more information on hallucinogens and other drugs, search through Alice's Alcohol, Nicotine, and Other Drugs archive. Another good resource is the book, Buzzed: The Straight Facts about the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy, by Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, and Wilkie Wilson.

Alice

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