Drug users have been warned about mixing magic mushrooms with other illegal drugs, something which could lead to requiring hospital treatment (inset). New Zealand Herald composite photo
Drug users have been warned about the psychological risks of taking magic mushrooms as well as the danger of mixing the autumnal fungi with substances like the increasingly abused nitrous oxide.
The arrival of cooler temperatures after Easter is regarded as the start of “mushroom season”.
Psilocybin mushrooms – which grow in the wild, including on wood, mulch and in grass areas - induce hallucinogenic effects and are classified as a Class A.
Possession of them carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison, and/or a $1000 fine.
Potential side effects of mushroom use can include raising heart rate and blood pressure, and in some cases – given the hallucinogenic nature of the drug - long-term psychological issues.
Drug harm reduction service High Alert also said “as we head into mushroom season”, the risks associated with magic mushrooms are amplified if they are taken with other substances.
They specifically pointed out the perils of ingesting mushrooms with ketamine, LSD and nitrous oxide (NOS).
“Mixing any combination of drugs can be dangerous,” High Alert said.
“The impact on your body and mind become even more unpredictable, and harder to manage. Often when we see drug-related harm, it’s because someone took more than one substance, including alcohol.
“Mixing magic mushrooms with another substance can lead to a reaction you didn’t expect. Psilocybin affects perception, mood, and thinking by acting on serotonin receptors in the brain.
“It’s a hallucinogen, meaning it can cause someone to see, hear, and feel sensations that aren’t real.”
High Alert is New Zealand’s early warning system for dangerous drugs, operated by Drug Information and Alerts Aotearoa New Zealand (Dianz) which is supported by a range of health professionals and both Government and Non-Government Organisations.
Dianz is governed by the Police National Drug Intelligence Bureau.
High Alert said ingesting magic mushrooms on their own came with risks, including increasing the “risk of panic, confusion or overwhelming psychological distress”, they put extra strain on the brain and body, increase the likelihood of accidents and injury, and “complicate emergency responses, as symptoms may be harder to identify or treat”.
Another peril included mistaking magic mushrooms for poisonous mushrooms that look similar.
![Psilocybe subaeruginosa [magic mushrooms] found in the wild. They grow on wood debris, woodchips and grass in New Zealand. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/2L3G3LBVBBCIFHRP3WZVJ3U2HQ.jpg?auth=bb82f7775ff3148005ea060ab09d947c0127977adc5d672e33376e66ac4c79bf&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)
“There have been some serious mushroom poisonings in New Zealand which could have been avoided if people had been properly informed.”
The drug harm reduction service has also highlighted three drugs that could further increase the risk to a user’s wellbeing if taken together.
As both magic mushrooms and LSD are psychedelics, their shared use could “multiply” the effects.
“This can be especially risky in unfamiliar or uncontrolled environments, or if someone isn’t in the right mindset when taking them,” High Alert said.
That includes the increased risk of “anxiety, panic, paranoia or loss of touch with reality”.
Combining ketamine – which can cause feelings of detachment from the body or surroundings – can lead to “particularly disorientating” impacts.
High Alert also highlighted the risk of mixing magic mushrooms with NOS; a colourless gas, which when used on its own, has recently resulted in a rising number of hospitalisations.
The combination of magic mushrooms and NOS could likely “place additional stress on the brain and nervous system”.
“Because NOS act fast and fade quickly, people may underestimate their impact — but when combined with psychedelics, the effects can feel much stronger and more chaotic.”
It could lead to dizziness, reduced oxygen levels and a greater risk of accidents or collapse.
High Alert added medical help was needed for anyone who showed the signs of overdosing; those included breathing difficulties, chest pain, extreme confusion or someone losing consciousness.
“Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can occur rapidly or are sometimes delayed by hours or even days after eating, when the toxins have begun to attack the liver and other organs,” High Alert said.
“Don’t wait for symptoms to occur – take the person to a doctor as soon as possible after ingestion. Keeping a piece of the mushroom can help with identifying the right course of action.”
Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 34 years of newsroom experience.
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