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Home , Amanita muscaria, Muscimol

ISSN 1681-5157

Drugs in focus emcdda.europa.eu Briefi ng of the European Monitoring Centre for and Addiction

Hallucinogenic : the challenge of responding to naturally15 occurring substances in an electronic age Over the past decade media interest and other media, forensic analysis, mushrooms, most of which contain in the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms practice and research. In this policy and as the main appears to have been driven by open briefi ng, information on the use of active ingredients responsible for the marketing of these mushrooms and hallucinogenic mushrooms is reviewed hallucinogenic effect. Nearly all of the by the legal changes made in some and policy lessons drawn. Factors are psilocybin-containing mushrooms are countries to prohibit this trade. identifi ed that served both to encourage small brown or tan mushrooms that and shape the trend in the use of could be mistaken for a number of non- Standard epidemiological methods hallucinogenic mushrooms during the psychoactive, inedible, or poisonous for monitoring drug use can be slow late 1990s and early 2000s and also mushrooms in the wild. to identify emerging trends and it those that acted as barriers to more is recognised that they need to be Psilocybin and psilocin (or psilotsin) widespread diffusion. complimented by more sensitive are controlled at the highest level methods. The challenge is to identify The are a chemically internationally, but some countries new drug fashions, which tend to start diverse class of drugs that are experienced a lack of legal clarity with within small subpopulations or in limited characterised by their ability to produce regard to mushrooms containing these geographical areas, and assess their distortions in sensations and to markedly substances. This confusion has been potential for more widespread diffusion. alter mood and thought processes. exploited by retailers and has Information sources in this area can be Naturally occurring hallucinogens presented obstacles to the development diverse, including reports from internet can be found in over 100 of of mechanisms to control supply.

Defi nitions Hallucinogenic mushrooms, commonly known as ‘magic mushrooms’: Species containing psilocybin and psilocin are the mushrooms most commonly used for their psychoactive properties, and are the main subject of this policy briefi ng. Other species of hallucinogenic mushrooms such as the fl y contain and as the main active ingredients. The muscimol-containing species are themselves toxic and are closely related to highly toxic species. Smart shops: Shops specialising in the sale of ‘natural’ psychoactive substances as well as related literature and paraphernalia.

Key issues at a glance

1. Use of hallucinogenic mushrooms is more common among young 4. The number of fatal and non-fatal emergencies from people who have used other illegal drugs than among young hallucinogenic mushrooms reported is very low. Use of people who have not. As young people attending music festivals hallucinogenic mushrooms is more commonly linked to mental and electronic dance events report higher levels of drug use health risks and a signifi cant proportion of those who use than the general or school populations, users of hallucinogenic hallucinogenic mushrooms may experience a panic attack. mushrooms are likely to be found in these settings. 5. Inherent characteristics associated with the use of hallucinogenic 2. The sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms by smart shops and market mushrooms (e.g. , panic attacks and unpredictable effects) stalls in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom appears to and social constraints on young experimenters (e.g. need for a have played an important role in facilitating their use. These safe environment to reduce risks) may act as barriers to regular retailers have provided easy access to hallucinogenic mushrooms or frequent use. during the late 1990s and early 2000s. 6. Six EU countries have tightened their legislation on mushrooms 3. In a recent internet search 39 online shops that sell since 2001 in response to concerns about the prevalence of use. hallucinogenic mushrooms products were identifi ed. Many of The new legislation may have had an impact on the availability these shops target an international customer by offering of mushrooms and overall volume of internet sales. However, different language versions and international shipping options. there are also signs that online retailers have responded by Considerable variation was noted in the extent and quality of switching to uncontrolled and possibly in some cases more toxic information provide about the health risks of the products sold. alternatives. Drugs in focus 1st issue 2007

Who are the consumers? Availability Hallucinogenic mushrooms were In Europe, the use of hallucinogenic Hallucinogenic mushrooms grow among the fi rst psychoactive substances consumed by man. Today they present mushrooms for recreational purposes wild in many parts of Europe, but the us with a new dilemma – how do fi rst emerged in the late 1950s but information available suggests that most we effectively control the supply of a diffusion at that time was limited to small mushrooms used for their psychoactive complex group of naturally occurring products being promoted and sold in esoteric groups (such as beat poets). properties are cultivated rather than what has become a global marketplace Diffusion among recreational drug users picked wild. Mushrooms are sold both where regulatory actions may was gradual until sales by smart shops as fresh and dried products and for simply result in suppliers switching to alternative and possibly even more and market stalls provided a channel home cultivation using mushroom prints, damaging products? for more rapid diffusion during the late spawnbags and growkits. The ESPAD Wolfgang Götz, EMCCDA Director 1990s and early 2000s. school surveys conducted in 2003 Compared with , the most report that the rates of 15 to 16 year commonly used illicit substance in old school students who perceive that EMCDDA identifi ed a total number of the EU, far fewer people have used hallucinogenic mushrooms are ‘very’ 39 online shops that sell hallucinogenic hallucinogenic mushrooms. Among or ‘fairly easy’ to obtain range from mushroom products. Most of these young people aged 15 to 24 years old 4% to 28%. Under 10% of students in online shops (31 or 82%) are based in 12 EU Member States, the proportion Cyprus, , Greece, Hungary, in the Netherlands. The remaining sites Latvia, , Romania and Turkey who have ever used hallucinogenic included four Austrian online shops, mushrooms ranges from less than 1% report easy access to hallucinogenic two German sites, a United Kingdom to 8%. Among school students aged mushrooms and over 20% of students site linked to a Dutch online shop and 15 to 16 years, in some countries, in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, a Polish site. Many sites are multilingual experimentation with hallucinogenic Poland and the United Kingdom report (mainly with English, French and mushrooms appears to equal that with easy access. German options) and the majority offer ecstasy. Repeated or regular use of The sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms international shipping. mushrooms is reportedly considerably by smart shops and market stalls in the lower than for drugs such as Information about health risks associated Netherlands and the United Kingdom and . As with the with use varies appears to have played an important other main type of hallucinogenic drug, between online shops. Most online role in facilitating the use of mushrooms LSD, young people who experiment with mushroom shops warn against using during the late 1990s. While exact mushrooms generally do not go on to hallucinogenic mushrooms when taking fi gures on the revenue from sales of become frequent or regular users. medication or in combination with hallucinogenic mushrooms by retailers or other drugs. However, one in Drug surveys conducted in music are not available, information mainly three shops give no warning about the festivals and electronic dance music from these two countries provides an settings show that in these settings indication of the economic interest dangers of use to sufferers prevalence of illegal drug use is driving this product. For example, in of depression or psychosis. Only half of consistently higher than among the 2000 it was estimated that magic the online shops provide information on general or school populations, and mushrooms make up 50% of smart dosage and safe use practices. use of hallucinogenic mushrooms is shops’ turnover. In the United Kingdom, more common among young people prior to July 2005 the Treasury collected Health risks who have used illegal drugs than sales tax on hallucinogenic mushrooms among young people who have not. The number of reports of fatal and non- estimated to be worth up to 175,000 Comparability between these types of fatal emergencies from hallucinogenic pounds sterling (EUR 255,421) a year survey is poor, and conclusions about mushrooms is very low. In general, the on a turnover estimated of around trends must be drawn with caution. Data physiological effects are short-lasting 1 million pounds sterling (EUR 1.46 from the Netherlands suggests a stable and not signifi cant and may include million) per annum. situation between 2000 and 2005, dizziness, nausea, weakness, muscle whereas data from the United Kingdom In addition to retail outlets, there has aching, shivering, abdominal pain, shows a strong increase between 2002 also been an increase in the number dilation of pupils (mydriasis), mild-to- and 2004. of online smart shops. In 2006, the moderate increase in heart rate and breathing (tachycardia, tachypnea) and images, severe paranoia and total loss prevalence of use: Denmark (2001), the elevation of blood pressure. However, of reality, which may lead to accidents, Netherlands (2002), Germany, Estonia, pronounced physical symptoms such as self-injury or suicide attempts. Although the United Kingdom (2005) and Ireland severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting many prevention programmes include (2006). and diarrhoea have been recorded. information on hallucinogenic drugs Legislating against the use of The acute toxicity of psilocybin alongside information on other drugs in hallucinogenic mushrooms presents is believed to be low, and this is order to raise awareness, there appears lawmakers with several problems. supported by the fact that reports of to be a lack of specifi c information Legislation should not unjustly criminalise fatal poisonings with hallucinogenic about health risks related to the use of people on whose land mushrooms mushrooms are rare. Poisoning can hallucinogenic mushrooms provided grow wild. One solution was to state occur when mushrooms picked in the to professionals working with young that mushrooms were illegal if ‘treated wild are consumed, if toxic species are people. On the other hand, users or prepared’ (Irish and United Kingdom mistaken for hallucinogenic mushrooms. and lobby groups have set up several legislation), which indicate the intent internet sites providing information on of use. Similarly, the Dutch Supreme Use of hallucinogenic mushrooms hallucinogenic mushrooms. Court ruled that mushrooms were under is more commonly linked to mental control when ‘dried or processed’. With health risks. Although the proportion Recent changes in legislation of users who experience a ‘bad trip’ the increase in smart shops using this is not known, it is these users who Psilocybin and psilocin (or psilotsin) are loophole to sell fresh mushrooms, the are most likely to contact emergency controlled under 1971 UN Convention United Kingdom (for example) argued in care systems. In such cases, the on Psychotropic Substances and listed 2004 that even packaging was a form intoxicated individuals are usually in Schedule I, though how mushrooms of ‘preparation’, but fi nally the law in the extremely anxious, severely agitated, containing them are classifi ed is not United Kingdom was changed in 2005 confused and disoriented, with impaired always clear. Six EU Member States to apply to hallucinogenic mushrooms, concentration and judgment. In serious have tightened their legislation on with no mention of their state. cases, acute psychotic episodes may hallucinogenic mushrooms since Drugs laws in Greece, Italy, Cyprus occur, including bizarre and frightening 2001, in response to concerns about and Lithuania have a catch-all term prohibiting cultivation of from which substances can be extracted. Yet, it is debatable if a mushroom is strictly a ‘’; hence the recent amendment to the German law Prevalence of ever in lifetime use of hallucinogenic mushrooms is higher among in 2005 adopting the term ‘organic’ young people attending dance music events (clubbers) than among the general substances, rather than the previously population used ‘plants and animals’ in order to close any possible loophole for

60 mushrooms.

40 Changes in legislation have had % an impact on the availability of 20 hallucinogenic mushrooms and overall

0 volume of internet sales. An analysis Hungary Czech Republic United Kingdom France of the different products promoted by

General population (age 15–24) School students (age 15–16) Clubbers online retailers revealed that those in the United Kingdom started to switch their sales to legal but more toxic alternatives, Notes: Estimates for recreational settings are based on non-probability samples using such as fl y agaric, muscaria, or a variety of methods and sampling frames. Prevalence of drug use among the broader population of clubbers cannot be inferred from these samples. See EMCDDA (2006) for the closely related details. since the ban on hallucinogenic Sources: Hibell et al. (2004), EMCDDA (2006). mushrooms. Drugs in focus is a series of policy briefi ngs published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Lisbon. The briefi ngs are published three times a year in the 23 offi cial languages of the European Union plus Norwegian and Turkish. Original language: English. Any item may be reproduced provided the source is acknowledged. For free subscriptions, please specify your requirements via e-mail [email protected]

Rua da Cruz de Santa Apolónia, 23-25, P-1149-045 Lisboa Tel. (351) 218 11 30 00 • Fax (351) 218 13 17 11 [email protected] • http://www.emcdda.europa.eu TD-AD-07-001-EN-C Hallucinogenic mushrooms: the challenge of responding to naturally occurring substances in an electronic age Policy considerations 1. Because of the relatively high levels of drug use among young 4. There appears to be a gap in the provision of mushroom specifi c people in music and dance settings, these venues offer cost- information material for professionals working with young effective opportunities for prevention and other initiatives people and a similar lack of prevention or that aim to reduce the health risks associated with the use of material aimed at potential users. hallucinogenic mushrooms. 5. The development of effective prevention and health promotion material is likely to be facilitated by understanding the 2. The economic interests of the retailers that promote the sale of perspectives of young people who are potential consumers of hallucinogenic mushrooms play an important part in supporting hallucinogenic mushrooms and tailored to their needs. the diffusion of this product. 6. Although strengthening legal control measures may be an approach to limiting the use and availability of hallucinogenic 3. The internet allows increasing opportunities for promoting and mushrooms, the impact of any measures needs to be carefully selling hallucinogenic mushrooms but also, importantly, for monitored both to assess their effectiveness and to avoid the risk providing information about health risks. of unintended negative consequences.

Key sources Berridge, V. and Hickman, T. (2006), History and future of psychoactive substances, Foresight Brain Science, Addiction and Drugs project. Offi ce of Science and Technology, United Kingdom. CAM (2000), Risk assessment report relating to paddos (psilocin and psilocybin), Coordination Centre for the Assessment and Monitoring of New Drugs (CAM), Den Haag, Netherlands. EMCDDA (2006), Hallucinogenic mushrooms: an emerging trend case study, EMCDDA Thematic Papers, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Lisbon. Golub, A. and Johnson, B.D. (1996), ‘The crack epidemic: empirical fi ndings support an hypothesized diffusion of innovation process’, Socio-economic Planning Sciences, 30 (3), pp. 221–231. Guzmán, G., Allen, J.W. and Garrtz, J. (2000), A worldwide geographical distribution of the neurotropic fungi, an analysis and discussion, Annali dei Museo civico - Rovereto, Italia. Vol. 14:1890280 (in English). Hibell, B., Andersson, B., Bjarnasson, T. et al. (2004), The ESPAD report 2003: alcohol and other drug use among students in 35 European countries, The Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN) and Council of Europe Pompidou Group. Reynaud-Maurupt, C. (2006), Usages contemporains de plantes et champignons hallucinogènes, Observatoire français des drogues et des toxicomanies, Saint-Denis, 160 pp.

Web information European Legal Database on Drugs ELDD http://eldd.emcdda.europa.eu/ OFDT information on hallucinogens http://www.ofdt.fr/ofdtdev/live/produits/hallucin.html EMCDDA 2006 statistical bulletin tables on prevalence of drug use in the population http://stats06.emcdda.europa.eu/en/page053-en.html

OFFICIAL PUBLISHER: Offi ce for Offi cial Publications of the European Communities © European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2007 DIRECTOR: Wolfgang Götz EDITOR: Peter Fay AUTHORS: Jennifer Hillebrand, Deborah Olszewski, Roumen Sedefov and Brendan Hughes GRAPHIC CONCEPTION: Dutton Merrifield Ltd, United Kingdom Printed in Belgium