Psilocybin mushrooms are mushrooms that contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. When ingested, a psilocybin mushroom alters the user’s perception, mood, and thought processes, sometimes leading to intense spiritual experiences or, conversely, disturbing psychological episodes.
Boasting a long history of use in spiritual and cultural rituals, psilocybin mushrooms are currently illegal to possess or use. Read on to explore how psilocybin mushrooms work, their physical and mental effects, the risks involved, and treatment options for those struggling with their use of this powerful hallucinogen.
What Are Psilocybin Mushrooms?
Psilocybin mushrooms are illicit hallucinogens, meaning they can induce altered states of perception, thought, and feeling in users. Psilocybin mushrooms are a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning they have a high potential for abuse and are not appropriate for medical use in the U.S. The most common street names for psilocybin mushrooms are “magic mushrooms,” “shrooms,” and “boomers.”1,4
Psilocybin mushrooms typically have long, slender stems topped by caps with dark gills on the underside. Fresh psilocybin mushrooms have white or whitish-gray stems with caps that are dark brown around the edges and light brown or white in the center. Dried psilocybin mushrooms are typically a darker brown with some off-white areas. They can be found in Mexico, South and Central America, and parts of the U.S. and are available fresh or dried.
Psilocybin mushrooms are ingested orally, either eaten or brewed into tea or added to other foods like chocolate to mask the bitter flavor.1,2
How Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Work?
Upon taking psilocybin, the user’s body converts the substance into psilocin. Psilocin attaches to and activates receptors in the brain, affecting how different regions of the brain communicate with one another. The altered pattern of brain activity contributes to profound changes in the user’s consciousness.
Effects of Psilocybin Mushrooms
Psilocybin can cause a wide range of effects, from heightened sensory awareness to impaired judgment. A “good trip” on psilocybin can include euphoria, peacefulness, and a sense of spiritual awakening. A “bad trip,” however, can cause frightening hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality.
Physical effects of psilocybin include:1,4
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness and yawning
Mental effects of psilocybin include:
- Distorted thinking
- Visual alteration and distortion, such as seeing halos of light and vivid colors
- Hallucinations, or seeing, hearing, or feeling things that do not exist
- Poor concentration
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Depression
- Panic attacks
Two serious long-term health risks are also associated with hallucinogens like psilocybin. The first is persistent psychosis, which may involve symptoms like visual distortions, disorganized thoughts, paranoia, unpredictable mood changes, and dissociation.
The second is a condition called Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD). This condition involves the experiencing of hallucinations even when not using the drug, also known as “flashbacks.”3,4 Symptoms of HPPD resemble certain neurological issues like stroke or brain tumor.4,7
Risks & Dangers of “Magic” Mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms contain low levels of toxicity, meaning it is unlikely to cause life-threatening effects such as respiratory failure or heart attacks. However, significant risks are associated with the use of this powerful drug.
An immediate risk of using hallucinogens like psilocybin is that of physical harm, which can result from the altered sensory perception that comes with taking the drug. Walking into traffic, jumping from great heights, or attempting to drive while impaired are examples of the dangerous behavior that can take place while on psilocybin.
Psilocybin is also known to increase the user’s blood pressure and heart rate, which may pose a risk to those with underlying cardiovascular conditions. Meanwhile, side effects of magic mushrooms like nausea, vomiting, agitation, or confusion can sometimes be severe enough to require medical attention. Another risk of psilocybin mushrooms is that of mistakenly consuming a toxic or poisonous mushroom instead of one containing psilocybin.1 The use of psilocybin mushrooms rarely results in life-threatening symptoms.6
Are Psilocybin Mushrooms Addictive?
Hallucinogens like psilocybin generally have a low potential for addiction. This may be due to the unpleasant physical side effects of shrooms, such as headaches and nausea, which tend to discourage the kind of compulsive use associated with addiction. However, psychological dependence on psilocybin presents a risk.
Use of psilocybin can contribute to the user developing a physical tolerance, requiring users to take more to reach the desired effect. This could increase the very low risk of psilocybin overdose.7
Psilocybin Mushroom Addiction Treatment in Atlanta
At Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta, we empower our patients with the skills they need to effect a lasting, positive change in their lives.
Offering a range of rehab programs to suit your needs, including partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and outpatient (OP) rehab, our treatments aim to guide you through the challenges of long-term psilocybin recovery. As an added measure to ensure your sobriety, all of our programs include one full year of free recovery coaching to provide continued support.
But what about the cost of treatment? Empowered Recovery Center accepts most major insurance plans and can work with many out-of-network plans to ensure you get the help you need. From verifying your benefits to going over the details of payment to making sure you know exactly the cost of rehab, including paying for rehab with insurance, our admissions team is here to help.
If you’d like to learn more about our comprehensive, individualized treatment programs, contact us today or fill out a contact form online.
References
- Department of Justice/U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (2020). Drug Fact Sheet: Psilocybin. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Psilocybin-2020.pdf
- Cleveland Clinic (2023). Hallucinogens. Cleveland Clinic’s Health Library. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/6734-hallucinogens-lsd-peyote-psilocybin-and-pcp
- National Library of Medicine (2022). Flashback phenomena after administration of LSD and psilocybin in controlled studies with healthy participants. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9166883/
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/hallucinogensrrs.pdf
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (2024). Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms). National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/psilocybin-magic-mushrooms#is-psilocybin-safe
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation (2025). Psilocybin (magic mushrooms). Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/psilocybin/
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023). Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/psychedelic-dissociative-drugs
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