Emerging Psychedelic Mushroom Alternative More Toxic Than Fentanyl, New Research Suggests

An emerging alternative to psychedelic mushrooms is more grave than advertised , public wellness researchers are warn .

In a new paper , they highlight the toxicity of the Amanita muscaria mushroom , which is more and more being sell as an unregulated add-on . More has to be done to protect people from the kingdom Fungi , the authors say , such as the U.S. government activity classifying it as a controlled substance . The new inquiry was guide by scientist from the University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science .

A. muscaria , also known as “ vanish agaric , ” can be well identified via its bright one-sided — usually red — cap covered in white spot ( it and exchangeable - looking fungi likely inspired the mushroom item now vernacular in Mario games ) . It ’s known to have hallucinogenic properties and was once used during rituals by some society in parts of the Old World . But the mushroom cloud ’s use as a drug was mostly supersede by the find of psilocin - containing mushrooms in the Americas .

Amanita muscaria mushrooms

Amanita muscaria mushroomsPhoto: Bernard Spragg/Wikimedia Commons (Fair Use)

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In recent years , scientist have explored psilocin ’s potentiality to treat depression and other genial wellness disorder , sparkle increase public interest in witching mushrooms . The authors of a new newspaper publisher , publishedin June in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine , note that this popularity has also animate the use of A. muscaria . But unfortunately for potential consumer , the two fungi have some very significant difference .

Both mushroom can have some similar symptoms , such as visual hallucinations . But the researchers note that the primary ingredients in A. muscaria — muscimol and ibotenic acid — are not classic psychedelics like psilocin and are risky to consume . They bespeak to black eye subject area suggesting that both compound have a higher toxicity ( measured as how much of a dose it would take to pop 50 % of drug user ) than most commonly used psychotropic drugs , include fentanyl , PCP , and cocain . They also reference several recent case reports of people being hospitalized or even dying from taking A. muscaria . While psilocybin mushroom are not free of potential side effects either , they ’re thought to have broken toxicity and a very rare peril of fatal overdose .

The island of Simushir, with four volcanoes dotted across it.

Adding to the possible danger of A. muscaria is the deficiency of regularization border its role , the authors say . Neither the mushroom nor its compounds are included in the federal government ’s Controlled Substances inclination ( the state of Louisiana does have its own reading that includes it ) . So there are no rule right now that govern how it can be grown or used . Some companies are also selling the mushroom-shaped cloud as dietetical add-on , which almost sure is n’t legal even under the very loose regulating of the manufacture . And these postscript are often advisedly fostering confusion between the different kinds of mushroom .

More need to be done to harness in the sale of these product and to inform potential users of the drug ’s risk , Leas and his squad say . They offer a spectrum of solution , from list it as a manipulate substance to mandate age restrictions or childproof packaging for supplements arrest it .

“ give the substantial risks associated with the uptake of Amanita muscaria intersection , it is a ‘ emptor beware ’ marketplace where consumer are at risk and manufacturers are gain from delayed regulatory enforcement , ” the authors wrote . “ The meter for a public health first response is now . ”

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