Ryan Jones
HHE 378
11/04/2022
Miller
The therapeutic effects of magic mushrooms (psilocybin) – (Audience: General
Public)
Mushrooms and other hallucinogens have been consumed for centuries with the earliest recorded
use in the early 1500s (Van Court et. al., 2022). However, even though this substance has been
around for so long, there is little research on its positive effects.
Psilocybin is a chemical derived from mushrooms native to North America, originally used as a
part of religious ceremonies in Mexican ethnic groups (Van Court et. al., 2022). Today it is used
by some for its therapeutic effects on depression and anxiety.
According to the DEA, psilocybin is listed as a Schedule I drug. Other Schedule I drugs include
heroin, ecstasy, and bath salts. The DEA describes these drugs as having the following
characteristics (Anderson, 2012):
•
•
•
The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical treatment use in the U.S.
It has a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
Despite its qualification for a high potential for abuse, psilocybin has been shown to cause few
long-term adverse effects. In a research study following 110 healthy individuals for 8-12 months
post-administration of psilocybin, no long-term negative side effects were found (Daniel &
Haberman, 2017). While more research is needed before making a conclusion, evidence suggests
that psilocybin users do not develop a dependency.
Why is psilocybin listed as a Schedule 1 drug if it is so safe?
The reality is that there are potential negative side effects in the short term. Possible physical
effects are nausea, vomiting, and loss of coordination. As the stigma suggests, some may
experience “bad trips.” Users can experience psychosis and the inability to distinguish
hallucinations from reality. However, negative experiences are more likely to occur with higher
doses. (Psilocybin Fast Facts, n.d.)
Dosage is a major factor when administering any drug, but with psychedelics, it is much more
crucial. Recently, there has been a movement to start micro-dosing with drugs like psilocybin. A
microdose is usually 10% the size of a normal recreational dose and usually does not cause
hallucinations of any kind (Begley, 2018).
Dennis van der Meijden, a Dutch graphic designer describes his biweekly microdose as “if the
frequencies of all of your atoms and energy field are raised a little bit and are being slightly more
conscious.” Van der Meijden has been micro-dosing for three years now and compares it to
drinking a cup of coffee (Begley, 2018).
Another possible way to combat negative experiences associated with psilocybin is group
therapy. In a research study performed on a population with high demoralization and traumatic
loss, group psilocybin therapy proved to limit the negative side effects and improve the mental
state of the patients in the study (Anderson et. al., 2020).
There is also the potential use of psilocybin in patients with Alzheimer’s as there is significant
evidence that psilocybin enhances autobiographical recollection (Carhart-Harris et. al., 2012).
Research participants recorded statistically significantly more vivid recollections of memories
and an overall mood improvement.
There is a stigma surrounding psilocybin and other psychedelics that in recent years have begun
to be torn down. We have begun to hear about positive experiences with psychedelics in
mainstream media whether it be on Joe Rogan’s podcast or an interview with Aaron Rodgers
crediting his back-to-back MVPs to psychedelics (Nelson, 2022).
People are waking up to the benefits that psychedelics can provide, and this movement has
brought more research with it. There are currently over 60 clinical trials being done with
psilocybin by the United States National Institute of Health (Van Court et. al., 2022). This is
significant because these trials show that the US government is open to exploring the benefits of
psilocybin which might lead to a new policy allowing for medical treatment.
It is so important that as a society we trust drugs that are backed by clinical trials to prove they
are safe and effective. In terms of psilocybin, there is not enough evidence today for legislation
to make a push for its legality, but there seem to be countless possible uses, and the more
research is done, the more positive outcomes we are seeing.
While I doubt psilocybin’s potential to be found on the shelves of convenience stores around the
country, with this much growing evidence of its potential benefits, I believe psilocybin can reach
prescription status within our lifetime.
Maybe these mushrooms can really be magic.
References
Anderson, B. T., Danforth, A., Daroff, P. R., Stauffer, C., Ekman, E., Agin-Liebes, G., Trope,
A., Boden, M. T., Dilley, P. J., Mitchell, J., & Woolley, J. (2020). Psilocybin-assisted
group therapy for demoralized older long-term AIDS survivor men: An open-label safety
and feasibility pilot study. EClinicalMedicine, 27, 100538.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100538
Anderson, L. (2012, October 28). List of Schedule 1 Drugs. Drugs.com; Drugs.com.
https://www.drugs.com/article/csa-schedule-1.html
Begley, S. (2018, August 23). “Microdosing” is touted by ’shroomers and Reddit users. Science
is starting to test their claims — and finding some truth. STAT; STAT.
https://www.statnews.com/2018/08/23/science-testing-claimed-benefits-of-psilocybinmicrodosing/
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Leech, R., Williams, T. M., Erritzoe, D., Abbasi, N., Bargiotas, T.,
Hobden, P., Sharp, D. J., Evans, J., Feilding, A., Wise, R. G., & Nutt, D. J. (2012).
Implications for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: functional magnetic resonance
imaging study with psilocybin. British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(3), 238–244.
https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.103309
Daniel, J., & Haberman, M. (2017). Clinical potential of psilocybin as a treatment for mental
health conditions. Mental Health Clinician, 7(1), 24–28.
https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2017.01.024
Nelson, J. (2022, August 25). Aaron Rodgers: Experience with psychedelics made me better
player, lover. Sports Illustrated Minnesota Sports, News, Analysis, and More.
https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/nfl-news-and-rumors/aaron-rodgersexperience-with-psychedelics-made-me-better-player-lover
Psilocybin Fast Facts. (n.d.). Www.justice.gov.
https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs6/6038/index.htm
Van Court, R. C., Wiseman, M. S., Meyer, K. W., Ballhorn, D. J., Amses, K. R., Slot, J. C.,
Dentinger, B. T. M., Garibay-Orijel, R., & Uehling, J. K. (2022). Diversity, biology, and
history of psilocybin-containing fungi: Suggestions for research and technological
development. Fungal Biology, 126(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2022.01.003