1. Drug name
Scientifically, it is known as Psilocybin Mushrooms―gained from what they contain, though it is commonly known as Magic Mushrooms.
2. Street Names (Other names for the drug)
– Psilocybin Mushrooms
– Magic Mushrooms
– Shrooms
– Mushies
– Zoomers
– Golden Teachers
– Liberty Caps
– Blue Meanies
3. Explain in detail what the drug is.
Psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, is a naturally occuring psychedelic drug found in certain species of mushrooms. The main active substance―which is very obvious―is psilocybin, which is then converted by our body if entered into psilocin, resulting in the chemical responsible for the drug’s psychoactive effects. Psilocin acts on serotonin receptors, which is locared in the brain, and can change an individual’s perception, thoughts, emotions, and sense of time. This has a high chance of causing hallucinations, meaning an individual may see, hear, or experience things differently than normal. Magic mushrooms can be consumed in numerous of ways―eaten fresh or dried, cooked, or perhaps made into tea. Their strength that will lead into effetcs can vary depending on the tyoe of mushroom, so what could happen can be difficult to predict. In New Zealand, magic mushrooms you could find inclue Psilocybe subaeruginosa and Psilocybe weraroa.
The effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person and can be influence by the amount taken, the strength of the mushrooms, the person’s mood and expectatiomns, and the environment they are used in―there is no single answer for the effect it causes. The effects generally begin within aroun 30 minutes when eaten, and may approximately last four to six hours. A person may experience euphoria, excitement, increased energy, but they can also experience confusion, anxiety, paranoia or panic. The drug can distort colours, sounds, objects, the sense of time, and may make the individual taking it experience hallucinations. Physical effects can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, increaed heart rate, seating, and changes in body temperature. A particularly difficult experience is known as a bad trip, which can involve intense hallucinations, fear, anxiety, paranoia, and a feeling of losing control.
Although psilocybin mushrooms generally have low toxicity, they don’t not have risk. One of the most serious dangers is accidentally eating a poisonous mushroom that looks similar to a magic mushroom; this can cause severe illness and, in extreme cases, death. Taking a large amount can also result in severe psychological or physical effects, including panic, paranoia, psychosis, seizures, or loss of conciousness. Some people who use magic musrooms repeatedly may experience flashbacks, other lasting perceptual effects, and heavy or frequent use may be associated with anxiety or depression. Magic mushrooms do not typically cause physical dependence, although tolerance of the drug can develop fairly quick, meaning that repeated use can reduce their effetcs. Overall, psilocybin is a psychedelic substance that changes the way the brain processes perception, emotion, and sensory information.
4. Explain what the drug looks like (provide pictures)
Magic mushrooms has no singular appearance because there are many different species. The most common types include golden tops, blue meanies, and liberty caps. However, in New Zealand Psilocybe subaeruginosa and Psilocybe weraroa are the two main species. These mushrooms can vary in size, colour, shape, and cap, and some may be found fresh or dried. When dried, they appear smaller, darker, and shrivelled.
Liberty caps are typically described as small, tan-coloured mushrooms, while fly agaric has a distinctive red and white spotted appearance. Magic mushrooms may be sold or found either fresh or dried.
Please keep in mind the images below are only a few examples of what magic mushrooms may look like.
5. How is it used?
Magic mushrooms are usually used by consuming it oraly in various ways. They can be eaten fresh or dried, cooked, or brewed into tea. It can also be swallowed immediately or in some cases, taken as liquid psilocybin. However, people do not always use the drug in the same way or in the form it is commonly expected to be used. For example, some people may eat the mushrooms raw, while others may dry them, cook them, or prepare it as a drink. The form in which they are taken in can influence how quickly the drugs’ effects begin.
It is also important to understand that there is no single way that every individual uses or experiences magic mushrooms. Their effects can vary depending on the amount taken, the strength and type of mushrooms, the individual’s health and previous experience, whether other drugs are involved, and the environment it is taken in. This means that depending on the amount taken, the person’s surroundings, who they are with and their moods, all the effects it has will shift. Two people can use the same drug at the same time, but may experience differing results. Person A may feel excited, estatic, euphoric, giggly, whilst Person B may become anxious, confused, paranoid, or overwhelemd. An individual’s mindset can strongly influence their experience, and that psychedelic experiences can sometimes be emotionally intense amd cause a person to think deeply about themselves, or other people, and the world surrounding them.
Depending on what way magic mushrooms are used can therefore differ from what someone might expect, and using them does not gurantee a particular experience or effect. Some people may use them for their psychedelic effects, while others may take them without having a full understanding of the strength of the mushrooms or may accidentally consume a poisnous mushroom that looks similar. Overall, magic mushrooms are typically consumed by eating or drinking them, but individual use and experiences with it varies considerably.
6. What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why? (cover P.I.S influences)
Adolescence is a period of time when the brain is still developing, and the part that is responsible for impulse control and making good judgements, develops later than the areas involved in emotions, motivation, and reward. This means that teenagers going through adolescence can be more driven by curiousity, emotions, and risk-taking, while finding it more difficult to consider the possible consequences of risky behaviour.
Personal factors that can drive teenagers going through adolescene may be curiousity, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, loneliness, trauma, and academic pressure are examples of influental reasons of drug use. For example, a teenager with low self-esteem may use substances to feel more confident or to change how they feel about themselves. Similarly, a teenager experiencing sress or anxiety may use drugs because they believe it will help them cope with difficult emotions or temporarily escape from their problems. Academic struggles can also contribute, as some teenagers may use drugs in an attempt to maintain their grades.
Interpersonal factors that can drive teenagers going through adolescene is most commonly peer pressure. A teenager may try drugs because they are worried about being judged, excluded, or seen as an outsider if they refuse. However, pressure doesn’t always have to be direct; if drug use is commone within the friend group, it can become normalized and seem less unusual. Family relationships can also influence behaviour. If a teenager regularly sees family members using substances, this can make drug use appear to be a normal part of everday life, especially if substances are easily available at home. On the other hand, family conflict, lack of support, neglect, or abuse, can contribute to drug use because some teenagers may use substances as a way of escaping stressful circumstances or coping with pain.
Societal actors that can drive teenagers going through adolescene may be the public media that is presented to them. Media, such as social media, television, movies, music, and sports, can influence teenagers by repeatedly presenting substance use as common, entertaining, or socially acceptable. When teenagers that are going through adolescene, they may develop more positive attitudes towards experimentation and underestimate the risks involved. For example, teenagers involved in a sport may use steroids because of performance goals, while a teenager with a sport injury may begin using prescription painkillers and become dependent on them.
7. Explain the positives and negatives associated with the use of this drug? To answer this question, you need to include information on:
(i) Explain the short-term and long-term effects on wellbeing (cover P.I.S effects)
(ii) A short paragraph explanation of how the stated impacts on wellbeing interrelate (are connected) e.g., if xxxx effects occur, what does this mean for a person’s physical and therefore, their mental and emotional wellbeing?
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8. What are the laws or restrictions of your chosen drug and what are the penalties?
Magic mushrooms are heavily restricted in New Zealand. This drug contains psilocybin, which is converted into psilocin in the body and produces psychedelic effects such as changes in perception, thinking, and emotions. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, New Zealand Police classify magic mushrooms as a Class A controlled drug, meanting they are considered to have a very high risk of harm. It is illegal to use, possess, cultivate, or traffic illegal drugs. Possesion means having control or custody of the drug, while trafficking includes activities such as manifacturing, selling, exchanging, offering ir for sale, or processing it for sale. This means that even though magic mushrooms can grow naturally, finding or growing them does not make them legal to possess or supply in New Zealand.
The penalties depend on what a person does with the drug. For possesion of a Class A drug, the maximum penalty listed by New Zealand Police is six months of imprisonments and/or a $1,00 fine. The consequences become much more serious if someine supplies or manufactures magic mushrooms. Supplyin or manufacturing a Class A drug has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, which shows that New Zealand law treats distrubution and production seriously. The Police also state taht allowing a premises or vehicle to be used to make, use, or carry a Class A drug can result in a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. These penalties show that the law does not only target people who sell magic mushrooms; it also restricts possesion, use, manufacture, and situations where other people are allowed to use or deal drugs on someone’s property.
9. Explain what strategies you would suggest to a person between the ages of 13-18 about things that they could do to keep themselves safe around your chosen drug?
For a person aged 13-18, the first strategy I would suggest is to avoid taking magic mushrooms and avoid picking or eating wild mushrooms unless they have been positively identifed by an expert. Magic mushrooms contains psilocybin, which can alter in perception, thinking, and emotions, and in some cases, cause hallucinations. A particularly serious risk is accidentally eating a poisonous mushroom because some poisoinous varieties can look very similar to magic mushrooms. Accidental poisoning is one of the main harms associated with mushrooms and that severe poisoning is one of the main harms associated with mushrooms and that severe poisoning can cause symptoms such as extreme weakness, breathing difficulties, seizure, or a loss of consciousness. Thereforem a young person should not rely on appearance or another person’s confidence that a mushroom is safe. If they or a friend may have eaten a poisnous mushroom or become seriously unwell, they should tell a trusted adult and seek emergency medical help immediately by calling 111.
The second strategy is to protect themselves from peer pressure and situations where they could be encouraged to take mushrooms. A teenager couul plan what they will say beforehand, such as clearly saying “no” and leaving if friends are pressuring them. This is important because magic mushrooms can affect people differently depending on factors including the amount taken, the strength of mushrooms, the person’s mood, and the environment. They can cause confusion, anxiety, paranoia, panic, and overwhelming experiences, while larger amounts can lead to unpredictable behaviour. A young person should therefore stay around people the trust, avoid situations where drugs are being offered and speak to a trusted adult, parent, teacher, or another support person if they feel pressured. Having someone trustworthy to talk to can make it easier to leave an unsafe situation rather than feeling that they have to go along with their friends.
The third strategy is to know how to respond if a friend has taken magic mushrooms and starts having a bad reaction. The safest approach is not to leave the persin alone or encourage them to take more drugs. It is reccomended to help someone who is having a bad trip by encouraging slow, deep breathing, moving somewhere quiet, and relaxing, talking to someone they trust and avoiding any additional substances. Magic mushrooms can cause intense hallucinations, panic, paranoia, vomiting, and changes in behaviour, and in more serious cases, seizures or loss of conciousness. They should get a trusted adult involved if things get out of hand rather than trying to manage a serious situation alone. If the person is unresponsive, having a seizure, having difficulty breathing, or otherwise seriously unwell, contact emergency medical help.
Overall, these three strategies gives young people ways to reduce risks associated with magic mushrooms.
| 1o. Decision Making
Using this scenario OR using your own drug related scenario, answer a- d. You can do this in paragraph format or create your own boxes.
Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use (insert your drug) with them. a. Describe what 3 options are that you have in this scenario. b. Explain in detail what the consequences are of each of these options. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option) c. Explain in detail what the feelings are that a person would have based on each consequence. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option.) d. Describe what the best option is to take and how it impacts on all 4 areas of Hauora? |
~ Answers below
Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use (insert your drug) with them.
a. Describe what 3 options are that you have in this scenario.
b. Explain in detail what the consequences are of each of these options. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option)
c. Explain in detail what the feelings are that a person would have based on each consequence. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option.)
d. Describe what the best option is to take and how it impacts on all 4 areas of Hauora?