Some people use psilocybin as a recreational drug. It can provide feelings of euphoria and sensory distortion that are common to hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD.

Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance, meaning that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose.

Although current research does not consider psilocybin addictive, users may experience disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic after taking the drug.

What Are Psilocybin Mushrooms?

Psilocybin mushrooms are naturally occurring fungi that contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. After ingestion, the body converts psilocybin into psilocin, which interacts primarily with serotonin receptors in the brain.

Researchers have studied these compounds for decades because they may influence perception, cognition, mood, and emotional processing. While psilocybin mushrooms have a long history of traditional ceremonial use in some cultures, modern scientific interest focuses on understanding their potential role in medicine through regulated clinical research.

It is important to distinguish scientific research from recreational use. Clinical studies take place under strict ethical, medical, and regulatory oversight.