Magic Mushrooms: How Long Does It Take for Shrooms to Kick In?

Are you curious to know how long it takes for shrooms to kick in? If so, then this article is perfect for you. Magic mushrooms are a powerful and renowned hallucinogen that has been used in various cultures for centuries. Knowing the timescale of when they take effect can be essential for making sure you're safe if you use them.

However, while magic mushrooms aren't addictive, that doesn't mean they're safe to use.

Magic Mushrooms: What Are Shrooms?

You might have heard about people getting high on mushrooms. These are known as magic mushrooms, shrooms, mushies, or psilocybin mushrooms. These mushrooms are a type of fungi that contain psychoactive compounds, psilocin and psilocybin.

This psychoactive substance leads the user to experience hallucinations.

Magic Mushrooms: What Is Psilocybin?

Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that is present in many species of fungi. It is a naturally occurring substance that leads to the distortion of thoughts, perceptions, and moods. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) considers psilocybin as one of the most well-known psychedelic substances.

The effects experienced by the user can depend on the amount they have taken along with their state of mind and physical/social environment while using it. 

Magic Mushrooms: What Is Psilocin?

Magic mushrooms also contain psilocin, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound that activates serotonin receptors in your brain. This creates the psychedelic effects and visuals associated with consuming magic mushrooms. The intensity of these effects depends on several factors such as the type of mushroom, dosage, and your body's reaction to it.

Are Magic Mushrooms Legal?

The legal status of magic mushrooms varies depending on the location. In the U.S., fresh and dried mushrooms are considered Schedule I drugs, meaning they are illegal to possess or use for recreational purposes. In Canada, it is illegal to cultivate, sell, possess, or consume magic mushrooms without a medical prescription.

How Long Does It Take for Shrooms to Kick In?

The onset time for magic mushrooms varies greatly from person to person. Generally, most people will feel the effects within 30-45 minutes after ingestion. However, in some cases, it can take up to an hour or even longer.

The intensity of the effects will also vary depending on your size, weight, metabolism, and other factors. For example, if you have a faster metabolism or are larger in size, then it may take slightly less time for the shrooms to kick in compared to someone with a slower metabolic rate or smaller body type.

Magic Mushrooms: A History of Psilocybin Use

Looking back at history, psilocybin mushrooms were traditionally used for religious and spiritual purposes. Some countries have even accepted it for medical use in treating mental health-related issues like anxiety, addiction, and depression.

Historically, these substances were used in supernatural activities and shamanic rituals like healing, communication with spirits, and divination. A few pieces of evidence have also indicated that entheogens were used even in prehistoric times by the Ancient Greeks, Ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, Maya, and Vedic cultures. Today hallucinogens like psilocybin, mescaline, ketamine, cannabis, and PCP are widely used to experience mind-altering experiences. 

This is the reason they are also known as dissociatives. A recent study estimated that more than 5.5 million people in the United States of America abuse these psychoactive substances. This is a massive increase as the 2002 data indicated that only 2.2 million previously abused these substances.

What Do Magic Mushrooms Look Like?

Magic mushrooms do not have any distinct features to set them apart from other mushrooms. They look like other ordinary dried mushrooms with long, slim stems. They have a rust-brown color with some off-white patches.

How Are Magic Mushrooms Used?

These mushrooms can be eaten raw or cooked with food. Magic mushrooms can be eaten in fresh and dried form and can be brewed as tea. Some people mix it with tobacco or cannabis and smoke it. psilocybin is available in liquid form and is mixed in cooked foods, tea, and fruit juice. Liquid psilocybin looks brown in color and is sold in small vials. 

Are Magic Mushrooms Addictive?

Shrooms belong to the drug class of hallucinogens. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has classified magic mushrooms as a Schedule I controlled substance. Schedule I drugs have no accepted or recognized use and are known for causing potential abuse and addiction problems in the user.

Magic mushrooms aren’t addictive in the strict sense of the world. However, they can lead to psychological dependence. This means the use of magic mushrooms can become compulsive after prolonged use.

What Effects Do Magic Mushrooms Produce?

Shrooms are dissociative drugs that can cause the user to experience hallucinations. They see, hear, and feel things that don’t exist.

Hallucinogen use risks triggering various mental and behavioral problems among users. Most young users try these psychedelic mushrooms with other drugs and alcohol. This practice of polysubstance use puts them at a higher risk of experiencing physical and psychological side effects. Since mushrooms are naturally occurring substances, no one exactly knows how much psilocybin and psilocin are present in any one of them.

The psychoactive amount of magic mushrooms is often unknown and varies from one shroom to another. Their side effects can vary; some commonly experienced ones are mentioned below. 

Physical Side Effects of Magic Mushrooms

Physical side effects include headache, drowsiness, lack of coordination, increased temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, drowsiness, dilated pupils, lack of coordination, yawning, nausea, and muscle weakness. 

Mental Side Effects of Magic Mushrooms

Mental side effects of shrooms can be paranoia, euphoria, nervousness, panic reaction, hallucinations, distorted sense of place, time, and reality, psychosis, and spiritual experience.

Magic Mushrooms: Can Magic Mushrooms Be Poisonous?

Mushroom poisoning is also a risk that can cause fatal damage to the user. This is a severe issue because magic mushrooms have a remarkable resemblance to poisonous mushrooms. They can be consumed, and one can get mushroom poisoning. It can cause serious side effects like severe illness, organ damage, and even death.

How to Know If You Have a Shroom Problem?

A lot of people still debate whether magic mushrooms are addictive or not. They can lead to psychological dependence. Regular and higher magic mushrooms dosage can cause a person to crave them. Generally, many shroom users have a history of substance abuse, and they combine it with other substances like LSD to enhance the effect.

Magic mushrooms can lead to several health issues, and it is important to recognize their signs and symptoms before they further complicate and become serious.

Common signs of magic mushroom abuse are:

• Inability to quit using magic mushrooms

• Sudden mood swings

• Using shrooms secretly

• Overlooking other obligations

• Stealing money for magic mushrooms

• Withdrawal symptoms

• Legal issues

How Long Do Magic Mushrooms Stay In Your System?

The effects of magic mushrooms typically last for around 6-8 hours. However, the metabolites can stay in your body for up to 24 hours and may be detectable in a urine test.

It's important to note that the duration of shrooms' effects will vary depending on several factors such as your dosage, body weight, metabolism, and individual tolerance.

Risks of Taking Magic Mushrooms

Hallucinogens are not approved substances and can lead to mental and emotional health problems. They can also lead to various accidents that can turn fatal. Magic mushrooms are infamous for causing convulsions in rare cases.

Even though psilocybe mushrooms have a mild tripping effect as opposed to various other substances, they can still lead to frightening illusions, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, and anxiety.

Many users have also reported getting a bad trip after consuming these mushrooms. Such users often end up in hospitals. 

Treatment for Magic Mushroom Addiction

Abusing psilocybin mushrooms at higher doses is not recommended. It can cause dependency and lead the user to several health-related complications. There are many types of treatment and rehabilitation options available in our country. These options will constitute different components that can only be determined after knowing an individual's health condition.

Some options for treating magic mushroom abuse are mentioned below.  

Counseling and Therapy

Behavioral counseling and therapy help the patient understand and view addiction as a disease. They also learn to identify their trigger points and how to cope with the craving. 

CBT or Cognitive Behavior Therapy

CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals make positive and effective life changes. It assists a person in identifying and changing the negative patterns that are contributing to abuse. It is among the widely used psychotherapies for treating addiction. It is typically run by a certified therapist or trained addiction expert. Once these pessimistic thoughts are identified, both patients and therapists work towards building solid and reliable methods of dealing stress and anxiety that come with addiction. 

Support Groups

These communities provide security and discomfort to the recovering individual. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an example of a support group that welcomes people to share their innermost feelings and find comfort in similar circumstances. They offer a sense of accountability that helps the person stick with the sobriety program.

After the pandemic hit the globe, many rehab centers offered digital support groups that would like to continue their sessions at their convenience. Anyone can find them on their mobile apps.  

Medical Detoxification

Medical detox, or simply detox, is considered the primary step in the recovery process. It is essential in managing withdrawal symptoms safely. The withdrawal timeline of psilocybin mushrooms is a little different from others. The user can experience withdrawal within 24-48 hours of stopping the substance. The rehab provides support and medication to manage the withdrawal process.  

Inpatient or Outpatient Drug Rehab Programs

Most treatment facilities will have two types of rehabilitation programs, inpatient and outpatient. They have some major differences but have the same goal of offering recovery. Such treatment offers structured programs and a secure environment for the patient to focus on achieving long-term sobriety. The patients are recommended either inpatient or outpatient rehab programs based on their needs, intensity of abuse, and other factors. 

Tired of Magic Mushrooms? The Forge Recovery Center Can Help You

Again, magic mushrooms aren't addictive the way other drugs are. However, some believe that street drugs and illegal substances like fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin are the only addictive drugs. Natural substances like kratom, cannabis, and magic mushrooms are often perceived as being safer than harder drugs.

Any substance with perception-altering properties can potentially cause physical and mental dependence among the users.

If you find that you are using shrooms too frequently and want to stop, then The Forge Recovery Center can help. Our team of compassionate professionals is dedicated to helping individuals break free from the cycle of substance abuse and addiction. Guided by a trauma-informed philosophy, we help people safely explore and deal with the mental and emotional roots of addiction in a serene, welcoming space.

If you think your magic mushroom escape is starting to affect your life and career in ways you don't want to, reach out to The Forge Recovery Center today. Our evidence-based, effective drug treatment and mental health programs can help you find a better path to happiness and success.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

November 11, 2023