Magic mushroom use has been common for decades in the United States. However, increased access to these products has resulted in an increased risk of serious health complications.
Public health departments around the country are issuing warnings about mushroom chocolate bars. Shroom chocolate products may contain dangerous levels of psychoactive drugs. People may struggle to control their dosage and may unintentionally overdose.
It is essential to understand the risks of mushroom chocolate bars, as well as the dangers of psilocybin mushroom use. This article will outline the potential risks of magic mushroom use and where to find treatment for substance use disorder.
What you will learn:
- What shroom chocolate products are
- The risks of mushroom chocolate bars
- The risks of magic mushroom use
- The potential for addiction
- How to recognize and treat mushroom abuse
- Where to seek substance abuse treatment
If you or someone you love struggles with mushroom abuse or other forms of substance use disorder (SUD), you are not alone. Alamo Behavioral Health offers comprehensive, compassionate treatment and recovery support programs. Contact the specialists at Alamo Behavioral Health to learn about our programs or to schedule an intake appointment.
What are Mushroom Chocolate Bars?
Mushroom chocolate bars are chocolate bars containing psilocybin (magic) mushrooms. These mushrooms are a type of fungus containing psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound.
Psilocybin mushrooms are common in Central America, Mexico, and the United States. The active compound in these mushrooms affects the prefrontal cortex of the brain. It can change how a person thinks and feels and can alter perceptions.
People may ingest psilocybin by eating or drinking teas or tinctures derived from these psychedelic mushrooms. Magic mushroom chocolate bars contain extracts or pieces of these mushrooms.
Mushroom chocolate products may be available in smoke shops. They may appear similar to regular chocolate bars. Psilocybin chocolate bars may come in a range of flavors, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and other varieties.
What are the Effects and Risks of Shroom Chocolate?
Psilocybin chocolate works by affecting receptors in the brain associated with perception, mood, and thinking. Consuming mushroom edibles, like shroom chocolate and other mushroom products, sends the active ingredient into the bloodstream.
People may experience a range of side effects after consuming shroom chocolate, including:
- Dreamlike sensations
- Altered perceptions of the environment
- Feelings of spiritual or emotional openness
- A sensation of relaxation, peace, or well-being
However, people may also experience some unwanted side effects when using psilocybin edibles. These include:
- Disturbing hallucinations
- Nausea
- Numbness in the face and limbs
- Dry mouth
- Elevated body temperature
- Increased heart rate
- Dizziness
- Loss of coordination
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Paranoia
- A feeling of disconnection from the environment
The intensity of the side effects can depend on the type of mushroom consumed, concentration, dosage, and other substances a person uses simultaneously. The effects may last for hours, depending on the dose someone took.
People may experience long-term effects of magic mushrooms. These may include:
- Flashbacks to bad trips
- Visual disturbances, including flickering lights or colors in the field of vision
- Halo vision
- A distorted sense of the color or size of objects in the environment
- These effects can last weeks, months, or years after someone stops using psilocybin mushrooms.
It can be very challenging to determine how much psilocybin shroom chocolate contains. Some brands of chocolate bars may also contain dangerous additives, such as amanita muscaria. Even high-quality shroom edibles may have hazardous side effects.
Many people believe mushrooms may have therapeutic effects in treating a range of physical and mental health conditions. However, shroom chocolate bars are unregulated. People may face life-threatening health problems from using them.
Can You Get Addicted to Magic Mushrooms?
People have been using magic mushrooms for many years to expand awareness or treat health conditions. However, magic mushroom abuse can have serious health complications. People may face long-term complications related to psilocybin abuse.
But is it possible to become addicted to magic mushrooms?
Research shows that psilocybin mushrooms do not have the same addictive risk as other drugs, including opioids or benzodiazepines. However, people who abuse them frequently may develop symptoms of psychological dependence. These include:
- More frequent use
- Taking higher doses
- Feeling anxious if they cannot take mushrooms
- Using mushrooms to manage stress or other mental health conditions
People who develop symptoms of psychological dependence may require intensive treatment and ongoing support to stop using mushroom products.
Treating Mushroom Abuse and Addiction
Mushroom abuse is a form of substance use disorder (SUD). People who abuse mushrooms may need professional treatment to stop or manage the lingering effects of mushroom abuse.
Mushroom abuse treatment programs may include:
- Medications to manage withdrawal symptoms or discomfort
- Mental health care, including behavioral therapies, medications, and counseling
- Psychoeducation
- Medical treatment
- Support groups
- Holistic therapies, such as mindfulness, exercise, and nutrition support
If you or someone you love needs treatment or support to manage SUD, you are not alone. Contact the intake specialists at Alamo Behavioral Health to explore our programs or to schedule your first appointment.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Severe Illness Potentially Associated with Consuming Diamond ShruumzTM Brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, and Gummies
- National Institute of Health (NIH): Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin: A Systematic Review
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
