Those are the findings by neuroscience research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, who noted that LSD, psilocybin and mescaline not only don’t cause long-term mental health problems, but that in many cases the use of psychedelics is mixed with a lower rate of mental health problems.

The study (here) pulled data from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Watching 130,152 randomly-selected respondents from the adult population of the US. 13.4% of that group (21,967 people) noted lifetime use of psychedelics. Matching this data to order screening measures for mental health. That psychedelic users had lower rates of mental health issues.

When someone consumes psilocybin mushrooms, they may experience hallucinations, euphoria, and depersonalization. Some may have an unpleasant experience, or even worse, pick and eat the wrong type of mushroom.

What are the Effects of Psilocybin Mushrooms?

Mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic substance psilocybin are consumed by people who are attempting to experience a psychedelic high. When someone ingests what are commonly called “magic mushrooms,” psilocybin activates serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex, affecting perception, cognition, and mood. Mushrooms can be found growing in the wild or they may be grown by individuals or drug manufactures. Psilocybin mushroom spores can be purchased online for people to grow personally, although they risk facing legal consequences for possessing a Schedule I controlled substance. Schedule I drugs have no medical use and have a high potential for abuse. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms depend on the potency and amount that is consumed.

The potency depends on the origin and species of mushroom, the growing conditions, the harvest period, and whether they are consumed fresh or dried. Dried mushrooms have 10 times the amount of active ingredients as fresh mushrooms. The taste of psilocybin mushrooms is generally bitter, so people will brew them as a tea, add it to food, or cover it in chocolate to mask the flavor and make it easier to consume. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms start within about 30 minutes and can last as long as 6 hours. Users may feel effects similar to those of the hallucinogenic drug LSD.