How Long Do Shrooms Last: What Are Magic Shrooms?
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic drugs containing the chemical Psilocybin, meaning they can cause you to see, hear, and feel sensations that seem real but are not. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic chemical obtained from certain types of fresh and dried mushrooms. [1]
However, the effects of magic mushrooms are highly variable and believed to be influenced by environmental factors. Shrooms have a long history of being associated with spiritual experiences and self-discovery. Many believe that naturally occurring drugs like magic mushrooms, weed, and mescaline are sacred herbs that enable people to attain superior spiritual states. Others take magic mushrooms to experience a sense of euphoria, connection, and a distorted sense of time.
The psilocybin found in shrooms is converted to psilocin in the body and is believed to influence serotonin levels in the brain, leading to altered and unusual perceptions. Its effects take 20 to 40 minutes to begin and can last up to 6 hours—the same amount of time it takes for psilocin to be metabolized and excreted. Many people develop shrooms addiction due to its chemical effects on the brain. Magic mushrooms are often prepared by drying and are eaten by being mixed into food or drinks, although some people eat freshly picked magic shrooms.
How Long Do Shrooms Last?
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound that puts the so-called “magic” in magic mushrooms, or shrooms, can stay in your system for up to 15 hours, but that’s not set in stone. How long shrooms stay in your system depends on a lot of variables, from the species of mushroom you ingest to things like your age and body composition. These things play into how long shrooms are detectable by a drug test, too.
How Long Do Shrooms Last: How long does it take to feel the effects?
The effects of shrooms can usually be felt around 30 minutes after ingesting them, but it depends on how you consume them. Fresh or dried mushrooms can be ingested on their own, mixed with food, or steeped in hot water or tea. In tea, shrooms can kick in as fast as 5 to 10 minutes after ingestion.
How Long Do Shrooms Last: How long do the effects last?
Shroom trips typically last between 4 and 6 hours, though some people may feel effects a lot longer. After your trip, you’re likely to have some lingering effects that can last into the next day. Bad trips can be harder to shake off. Certain factors can make some effects linger longer and increase the likelihood of a comedown or hangover. The factors that can affect the severity and duration of shrooms’ effects include:
- How much you take
- The mushroom species
- How you consume them
- Whether you eat dried or fresh shrooms (dried ones are more potent)
- Your Age
- Your tolerance
- Your expectations and frame of mind
- Having a preexisting mental health condition
- Any other substances you might’ve taken
Within 24 hours, though, most people go back to feeling like themselves.
How Long Do Shrooms Last: Drug Tests
It’s hard to define for how long shrooms are detectable by a drug test because there are so many different types of drug tests available, and some are a lot more sensitive than others. That said, most routine drug tests can’t detect shrooms. More specialized tests may be able to, though. The detection windows vary from test to test, too. Most routine drug tests are urine tests. Most people’s bodies eliminate shrooms within 24 hours. That said, research shows that a trace amount may be detected in urine for a week in some people.
In general, though, shrooms don’t show up on most routine drug tests. The body also metabolizes shrooms too fast for them to show up in blood or saliva tests (unless the test is done within a few hours of consumption). As for hair, hair follicle tests can detect shrooms for up to 90 days, but this type of testing isn’t common due to the cost.
Factors that Affect the Detection of shrooms in a drug test
Certain factors can affect how long shrooms hang around in your system.
- Method of Use: Whether you consume it dried or fresh, scarf it down on its own, hide it in a burger, or drink it in tea, how you consume your shroom dose affects potency and how quickly it passes through your body.
- Dose: Again, how much you consume plays a significant role. The more you ingest, the longer shrooms will be in your body and possibly detectable.
- The Time Between Ingestion and Testing: Hallucinogens like psilocybin are eliminated from the body quickly. Still, the time between ingesting shrooms and testing could be a factor — if the correct type of test is used, of course.
- Mushroom Species: The amount of the hallucinogen varies from shroom to shroom.
How Long Do Shrooms Last: Common Side Effects Of shrooms consumption
Generally, shroom abuse is not as life-threatening as with other drugs like Opioids or Stimulants; however, users can experience mushroom poisoning. Other side effects of shrooms include:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Increased heart rate
- Chills
- Numbness
- Inattention
- Feelings of floating
- Visual and auditory hallucinations
- Anxiety
- Lowered inhibitions
- Insomnia
- Psychosis
- Synesthesia (mixing up senses)
- Altered perception
- Unpredictable hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Muscle spasms
- Elevated, euphoric mood
- Sense of inflated well-being
- Enhanced perception of reality
- Elevated blood pressure
- Excessive sweating
Continued use of magic mushrooms can create long-term psychosis. Research by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has found that even one strong dose of Psilocybin Mushrooms can alter a person’s personality for more than a year, and perhaps permanently.
How Long Do Shrooms Last: Are Shrooms Illegal?
Under federal law, the possession or distribution of magic mushrooms is illegal. These are schedule 1 drugs. Any drug in this category has no known medical use and has a high potential for abuse. However, since the beginning of 2010, different states have started decriminalizing the use of magic mushrooms, citing potential health benefits. Oakland, Colorado, Santa Cruz, and Massachusetts are some of the states that have decriminalized psilocybin. In other words, adult possession and cultivation for personal use is not illegal. It should be noted that cultivation for commercial use is still illegal.
How Long Do Shrooms Last: Shrooms Addiction Treatment
Avoiding the signs of withdrawal symptoms and side effects is hard. Experts often recommend a slight decrease in the mushroom dosage. As such, removing the abuser gently off the substance. Furthermore, there are times when they might have to conduct sensory stimulation. They do this to reduce HPPD (Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder) symptoms. It’s done to prevent or control seizures and agitation. Finally, usage of benzodiazepines may also have to be used during mushroom detox.
Receiving detox treatment is always a better option than undergoing detox alone. A shrooms abuser who wants to quit should enter a reliable detox center, where they can be supervised by medical experts who can offer proper treatment.
When a person enters a shroom detox center, they will go through many steps of recovery. One of those steps would be receiving behavioral-based therapy. Another step may include CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy). Lastly, upon completing rehab, which can last from a few days to a few weeks. The patient will have a few options to choose from as far as their further treatment goes. They can opt for the following:
- Outpatient Therapies And Programs
- Motivational Interviewing
- Multidimensional Family Therapy
- Motivational Incentives
Reclaim your life from shrooms addiction
Shrooms Addiction is a serious condition that can cause severe health, social and economic problems that should not be taken lightly. We Level Up Treatment Center can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from the addiction with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition by giving you clarity about questions like “how long do shrooms last?.” Our specialists know what you are going through. Please know that each call is private and confidential.
Sources
[1] U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) (www.dea.gov)
[2] We Level Up Treatment Center – Are shrooms addictive? (Welevelup.com)
[3] We Level Up California – Shrooms Addiction (Welevelupca.com)