Psilocybin (Fake Mushrooms): Addiction and Treatment: What You Should Know

While advancements in technology and modern medicine have done wonders for not just the medical community but the public as a whole, when put in the wrong hands, some of these advancements can have dangerous consequences.

A trend that has emerged over the past 10 years or so is the creation of “fake” or synthetic drugs and substances. These substances, often created in a lab, are designed to mimic the effects of the original substance. While they can often be made cheaper than the cost of the substance they are trying to mimic, they can also be significantly more dangerous to the person ingesting the synthetic substance.

A popular example of this is fake mushrooms or fake shrooms. As the concept of not just fake shrooms but all sorts of fake and synthetic substances continues to grow in popularity, it is more important than ever to understand not just what these substances are, but the dangerous risks that come along with taking them.

Keep reading to learn more about fake shrooms, the effect they can have on the body and the brain, and how you or a loved one can get help with drug addiction, or any other type of addiction at Discovery Institute in Marlboro, New Jersey.

The History of Psilocybin Research

Psilocybin also known as psychedelic mushrooms have been utilized by individuals in Central America, and potentially other areas, for centuries; however, they remained largely unknown in Western societies until the 1950s. This shift occurred when American mycologist R. Gordon Wasson traveled to Huautla de Jiménez in Oaxaca, Mexico, where he engaged in a ritual involving psychedelic mushrooms. His experience was documented in a 1957 Life magazine article titled “Seeking the Magic Mushroom,” which introduced these fungi to a wider audience.

In the same year, Albert Hofmann, a chemist at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland, successfully isolated psilocybin from dried Psilocybe mexicana mushrooms, identifying it as the psychedelic component responsible for the mushrooms’ effects. Consequently, Sandoz began producing and distributing a psilocybin-containing pill, known as Indocybin®, for research purposes in psychiatric studies.

Throughout the 1960s, various trials were conducted to assess the effectiveness of psilocybin. However, research on the compound significantly declined after it, along with other psychedelics such as LSD and mescaline, was classified as a Schedule I drug by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in 1970 as part of the “war on drugs.” While it is still possible to study Schedule I substances, the process is complex and costly, requiring extensive review and approval at both institutional and governmental levels. The stigma and regulatory challenges associated with psilocybin have hindered the exploration of its therapeutic potential.

In recent years, however, progress has begun to resume. Pioneering clinical studies conducted in the mid-2000s have laid the groundwork for subsequent research initiatives supported by philanthropists and private organizations.

Currently, researchers at various institutions across the United States are investigating the potential medical applications of psilocybin, guided by contemporary best practices in psychedelic research. It is important to note that psilocybin remains classified as a Schedule I substance and continues to be surrounded by stigma.

What are Fake Shrooms?

Simply put, fake shrooms are synthetic mushrooms that are made to replicate the effects of natural psilocybin mushrooms. However, since they are synthetic and made in a lab, they can be much more dangerous and come with far greater risks.

Many of the fake mushrooms found on the street are made with a synthetic compound called 4-AcO-DMT. While it is chemically similar to psilocybin, since it is lab-created, it can often be difficult for the user to know how much they are taking, putting the user at a higher risk of harmful effects and unintended consequences.

Additionally, fake mushrooms are made to look like a natural product. They are often sold in dried form, capsules, or infused in edibles making it difficult for someone looking to buy mushrooms to be able to tell the difference between the natural and synthetic product.

Signs and Symptoms of Fake Shrooms

Since fake shrooms often physically look like natural “magic” mushrooms, those purchasing shrooms on the street may not always know what they are getting. That being said if you or someone you know has purchased shrooms and are concerned that the product is fake, there are certain signs and symptoms after consumption that are important to keep an eye out for, both physical and psychological.

Physical Symptoms

If someone has ingested fake shrooms, they may experience the following physical symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Dilated pupils
• Sweating or chills
• Elevated heartbeat
• Heart palpitations

Psychological Symptoms

Someone taking fake shrooms may also experience the following psychological symptoms:

• Psychosis
• Delusional thinking
• Disorientation
• Severe anxiety or panic attacks
• Increased or more disturbing hallucinations

How Do Fake Shrooms Affect the Brain and Body?

While everyone reacts differently to psilocybin, the way a person reacts to synthetic substances can vary even more, especially compared to the natural version of the substance.

Fake mushrooms often contain chemicals that act as potent serotonin agonists, which overstimulate serotonin receptors in the brain. This excessive stimulation can lead to erratic brain activity, resulting in many of the side effects we listed above including hallucinations, mood swings, and cognitive dysfunction.

Fake mushrooms can also do significant damage to the body’s cardiovascular system, thus putting the user at a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular events.

To make matters worse, since the chemical makeup of fake shrooms is unregulated and therefore unknown by the buyer and sometimes even the seller, there is no way for the user to know the effects before they take the substance.

How Do Fake Shrooms Produce Effects?

Psilocybin is classified as a serotonergic psychedelic, which also encompasses substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and mescaline. The effects of psilocybin can vary significantly based on individual factors and dosage, potentially leading to sensations of euphoria, alterations in perception, experiences interpreted as spiritual, and feelings of detachment, among other outcomes.

It is important to note that these effects are not directly attributed to psilocybin itself; rather, upon consumption, it is converted into psilocin, the compound’s active form. Psilocin engages serotonin 5-HT2a receptors located on cortical pyramidal cells within the brain. These cells serve as the primary computational units of the brain, integrating information to shape our understanding of reality.

David Nichols, Ph.D., a professor emeritus at Purdue University School of Pharmacy and a researcher of psychedelics since the late 1960s, explains that by stimulating these receptors, psilocin modifies brain metabolic processes and neuronal connections, thereby affecting cognitive functions and perception.

Why Are Fake Shrooms Addictive?

Much like their natural counterpart, fake shrooms can be habit-forming and addictive due in large part to the intense psychoactive effects they produce. As is the case with any other potential substance of abuse, the more someone takes fake shrooms, the more tolerance they build, thus needing to continue to take more to reach their desired effects.

Also like other substances of abuse, taking fake shrooms can trigger the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine and creating a cycle of dependence. When this happens, the person taking fake shrooms may find themselves craving its effects such as the altered state of consciousness.

Some may turn to real or fake shrooms as a form of self-medication, particularly those who may suffer from mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. This can not only make their mental health condition worse but can also lead to a dependency or addiction to the fake shrooms.

Treatment for Fake Shrooms

Like any other type of substance abuse or addiction, for those who find themselves dependent on or addicted to real or fake shrooms, help is available. Below are many of the treatment options available for those suffering from real or fake shroom addiction: