MUSHROOMS

Name It
'shrooms, Mushies

Know It
Several types of magic mushroom grow wild in the UK. The main type is the Liberty Cap mushroom (psilocybe Semilanceata)
There are also species which look similar to magic mushrooms but are poisionous.
Magic mushrooms are eaten raw, dried, cooked in food or stewed into tea.
Whilst it isn't illegal to posess magic mushrooms, it is an offence to possess prepared mushrooms or to prepare of them (e.g. when they are dried or stewed).
Magic mushrooms, when prepared, are Class A drugs.

The Effects
Magic mushrooms have a similar effect to LSD, but the trip is often shorter and milder.
Magic mushrooms can make users feel very relaxed and 'spaced out'. The effects depend on the users mood, where they are and who they're with.
Magic mushrooms can cause hallucintaions - objects, colour and sound become distorted.
A trip tends to last for about 4 hours.

The Risks
Magic mushrooms often cause stomach pains, sickness and diarrohoea.
Eating the wrong kind of mushroom can also cause serious illness and even fatal poisioning.
If users feel sick they should go straight to hospital with a sample of the mushroom and explain what's happened.
Bad trips can happen and be very frightening. Once the trip has started, there's no going back.
Like any hallucinogen, magic mushrooms can complicate mental problems.