Substances & Effects 2025

Magic Mushrooms and Psilocybin:

What Are They?

  • Magic mushrooms refer to over 180 species of mushrooms containing psilocybin.
  • Common species include Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata (liberty caps), and Psilocybe cyanescens.
  • Found in many parts of the world, often in damp, grassy areas.

How Do They Work?

  • Psilocybin is metabolized into psilocin, which primarily affects serotonin receptors in the brain, especially 5-HT2A.
  • This interaction leads to altered states of consciousness, visual and auditory hallucinations, and changes in time perception and emotional state.

Effects

  • Positive: Euphoria, spiritual experiences, enhanced creativity, altered perception of time and space.
  • Neutral/Variable: Introspection, emotional sensitivity.
  • Negative: Nausea, anxiety, paranoia, confusion, or “bad trips.”

Medical and Therapeutic Use

  • Increasingly studied for potential benefits in treating:
    • Depression (especially treatment-resistant)
    • Anxiety (particularly in terminal illness)
    • PTSD
    • Addiction (e.g., smoking, alcohol)
  • Psilocybin-assisted therapy involves guided sessions with trained professionals.

Legal Status

  • Illegal in many countries as a Schedule I substance (e.g., USA), meaning it’s considered to have high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
  • However, some places have decriminalized or allowed medical/research use, such as Oregon (USA), parts of Canada, and the Netherlands.

Risks and Considerations

  • Not physically addictive but can cause psychological distress.
  • Should be avoided by people with a personal or family history of psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia).
  • Can lead to dangerous behavior if used irresponsibly or without support.

LSD ACID

What Is LSD?

LSD is a synthetic chemical derived from lysergic acid, which is found in a fungus called ergot that grows on rye and other grains.

  • Chemical name: Lysergic acid diethylamide
  • Drug class: Hallucinogen / Psychedelic
  • Street names: Acid, Lucy, Tabs, Blotter, Doses

What Does LSD Do?

LSD causes psychedelic effects, including:

  • Visual hallucinations (seeing colors or patterns that aren’t real)
  • Altered perception of time and space
  • Intensified emotions
  • Synesthesia (e.g., “hearing” colors or “seeing” sounds)
  • Distorted reality and ego dissolution (loss of sense of self)

These effects are often referred to as a “trip”, which can last 8 to 12 hours.

How Is LSD Taken?

LSD is usually taken orally, often on:

  • Blotter paper (small paper squares soaked in LSD)
  • Gel tabs
  • Sugar cubes
  • Liquid drops

It’s odorless, colorless, and has a slightly bitter taste.

Risks and Side Effects

While LSD is not physically addictive, it can have serious mental and emotional effects, especially at high doses or in unsafe environments:

Short-term risks:

  • Anxiety or panic attacks
  • Paranoia
  • Confusion
  • “Bad trips” (frightening hallucinations and emotions)

Long-term or rare effects:

  • HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder): Flashbacks or visual disturbances long after use
  • Psychosis or mental health issues (especially in people predisposed to conditions like schizophrenia)

Legal Status

LSD is illegal in most countries, including the U.S., where it is a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Potential for Therapy?

In recent years, there’s renewed interest in LSD and similar psychedelics for mental health treatment, particularly for:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety (especially in terminal illness)
  • PTSD
  • Addiction

However, such use is experimental and strictly regulated in clinical settings.

DMT

What Is DMT?

  1. Full name: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
  2. Drug class: Psychedelic / Hallucinogen
  3. Chemical structure: Similar to serotonin and melatonin
  4. Natural source: Found in many plants, animals, and even produced in small amounts in the human body

What Does DMT Do?

DMT causes intense hallucinations, often involving:

  • Vivid, geometric visuals
  • A sense of leaving the body
  • Encounters with strange entities or beings
  • Time distortion (minutes can feel like hours)
  • A feeling of entering a different dimension or reality

How Long Does It Last?

  • Smoked or vaporized DMT: Effects begin almost instantly and last 5–20 minutes (“the businessman’s trip”)
  • Oral DMT (like in ayahuasca): When combined with a MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor), it becomes active orally and lasts 4–6 hours

What Is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian brew that contains DMT and MAOIs. It’s used in spiritual and healing ceremonies and causes a longer, more intense psychedelic journey.

Risks and Side Effects

While not physically addictive, DMT can have powerful psychological effects.

Short-term effects:

  • Intense fear or anxiety (especially during a bad trip)
  • Nausea and vomiting (especially with ayahuasca)
  • Confusion or disorientation

Potential long-term risks:

  • Psychological distress in vulnerable individuals
  • Possible triggering of latent mental health disorders

Does the Brain Make DMT?

Yes — small amounts of DMT are naturally produced in the human body, possibly in the pineal gland, though its exact role is unclear. Some speculate it’s involved in dreaming or near-death experiences, but this isn’t proven.

Therapeutic and Spiritual Use

Recent research is exploring DMT and ayahuasca for treating:

  • Depression
  • PTSD
  • Addiction

However, this is in early stages and should only be done under clinical or ceremonial supervision.