Fast Facts: Magic Mushrooms

Active ingredient is psilocybin
Effects: similar to those produced by LSD

• Early effects may involve numbness, vomiting, muscle weakness, tension
• Drowsiness can occur
• Distortion of senses and thought processes
• Unpleasant reactions can occur and include confusion, fearfulness, paranoia and depression
• High temperatures and seizures can occur in children
• Effects usually occur 30-60 minutes and last about 4-6 hours
• "Flashbacks" - a brief recurrence of parts of a trip have occurred up to 3 months after use
• Overdose is relatively common and can be life threatening

• Tolerance to the effects occurs very quickly. After daily use for several days no amount of this drug will produce the desired effects
• Neither physical nor psychological dependence has been reported
• Adverse effects resulting directly from long term, high dose use are not well researched at present

Psilocybin and The Law
Psilocybin is listed in the Food and Drug Act as a restricted drug. Possession of mushrooms (in any form) that contain psilocybin is illegal.

For additional information, please contact one of the following Addictions Services Offices.