Magic Mushrooms
Otherwise known as:-
Mushies, Shrooms, Magies, Liberty Caps
What are they?
- The most common type of Mushie grown in England is called the Liberty Cap. Other varieties, including ‘Thai’, ‘Mexican’ & ‘Mushroom Truffles’ are sold on market stalls. Please remember that some have much stronger effects than others.
- Magic Mushrooms are hallucinogenic. This means they change the way you see things and think about things – this is also called a‘trip’.
- Be really careful: some varieties of mushroom are deadly poisonous, so be really sure you know what you’re eating!!
Effects
- As always, this will depend on:
Who you are, how strong the Mushies are, how you’re feeling at the time, where you are, who you’re with
- Effects include: laughter, feelings of happiness, visuals (changes in shapes and colours), new ways of thinking about things…
- …but they can also include: nausea (feeling sick), paranoia, quickly changing feelings, difficulty sleeping
- The trip peaks for 3-4 hours, but you may feel different for over 9 hours
Risks
- One of the biggest risks is mistaking a Magic Mushroom for a similar-looking, but very poisonous type, especially if you’ve gone outside to pick your own. There are many poisonous varieties of mushroom in the UK, and some will kill you.
- Any drug that makes you trip will effect your judgement. There is a chance you could get yourself into a dangerous situation without realising it.
- A nasty experience on Mushies is called a Bad Trip. This can be really scary, so it’s a good plan to be with a mate who can look after you.
- Some people get flashbacks. This is when a trip starts to happen, sometimes weeks or months after you last took took Mushies.
Be Safer
- Be with people you trust, and be somewhere you feel comfortable
- Don’t take them if you feel unhappy or depressed – they’ll just make you feel worse
- Some Mushies are stronger than others. Remember that the effects can take over an hour to happen, so wait before you think about doing more
- Have something to eat before you take them
If you’re with someone who’s having a bad time on Mushies:
- Take them to a quiet, safe place
- Reassure them: tell them it’ll wear off soon & they’ll feel okay
- Stay with them & don’t be affraid to take them to hospital if they’ve got a bad stomach or are feeling ill
The Law
- Magic mushrooms are now aClass A drug, whether they have been prepared to be eaten or freshly picked.