- Content:
- What Are Psychoactive Substances?
- Comparing Negative Effects
- Short-Term Effects
- Long-Term Effects
- Risks of Overdose and Dependency
- Potential Positive Effects
- Why Are Shrooms Illegal While Alcohol Is Legal?
- Conclusion
Alcohol and psilocybin mushrooms (commonly known as “shrooms”) are both psychoactive substances, yet their legal status vastly differs. Alcohol is widely accepted and legally consumed in most parts of the world, whereas psilocybin mushrooms are classified as a Schedule I substance in many countries, meaning they are considered to have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. This article explores the short-term and long-term effects of both substances, their risks, benefits, and the reasoning behind their legal status.
What Are Psychoactive Substances?
A psychoactive drug is any chemical substance that alters brain function, affecting perception, mood, and consciousness. Both alcohol and psilocybin mushrooms fit this category. While alcohol is created through fermentation, psilocybin mushrooms grow naturally.
Comparing Negative Effects
Short-Term Effects
Alcohol:
- Nausea, vomiting, and unconsciousness (risk of choking while unconscious)
- Emotional volatility and impaired judgment
- Dizziness, confusion, and headaches
- Increased urination and dehydration
- Breathing difficulties and potential for coma or death
- Blackouts and hangovers lasting up to 36 hours
Psilocybin Mushrooms:
- Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness
- Confusion and potential fainting
- Memory disruption
- Anxiety or fear (which may be mild or severe)
Long-Term Effects
Alcohol:
- Permanent brain damage and nerve damage
- Liver diseases, including cirrhosis and cancer
- Increased risk of various cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast)
- Severe addiction and withdrawal symptoms
Psilocybin Mushrooms:
- May exacerbate pre-existing mental disorders
- Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), which causes lingering visual disturbances
- Some users report unwanted spiritual experiences
| Effect Type | Alcohol | Psilocybin Mushrooms |
|---|---|---|
| Short-Term Effects | Nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, emotional volatility, impaired judgment, dizziness, confusion, headaches, increased urination, dehydration, breathing difficulties, potential coma or death, blackouts, hangovers lasting up to 36 hours. | Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, potential fainting, memory disruption, anxiety or fear (mild to severe). |
| Long-Term Effects | Permanent brain damage, nerve damage, liver diseases (cirrhosis, cancer), increased risk of various cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast), severe addiction, withdrawal symptoms. | May exacerbate pre-existing mental disorders, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), unwanted spiritual experiences. |
Risks of Overdose and Dependency
One major difference between the two substances is their toxicity. The lethal dose (LD50) for alcohol is reached when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) hits 0.45%, which can occur after consuming around 13 shots of 40% alcohol in one sitting. Every day, about six people die from alcohol poisoning in the United States alone, and globally, alcohol contributes to 2.5 million deaths per year.
On the other hand, psilocybin mushrooms do not have a recorded lethal dose in humans. Studies on rats suggest that the estimated lethal dose for a 60 kg human would be around 1,680 grams of dried mushrooms—far beyond what any person could reasonably consume. Additionally, mushrooms are not physically addictive, whereas alcohol has well-documented dependency issues.
Potential Positive Effects
Despite alcohol’s widespread acceptance, its long-term benefits are minimal. Some studies suggest moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease, but there are healthier ways to achieve these benefits.
Meanwhile, research on psilocybin mushrooms suggests potential therapeutic applications:
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Increased life satisfaction and positive outlook
- Reduced fear of death in terminally ill patients
- High success rates in helping people overcome addiction (e.g., smoking cessation)
A study from Johns Hopkins University found that 94% of participants who took psilocybin rated the experience as one of the most meaningful in their lives, and 80% of participants in another study successfully quit smoking for six months after psilocybin therapy.
Why Are Shrooms Illegal While Alcohol Is Legal?
Despite evidence suggesting that psilocybin mushrooms may be less harmful than alcohol and have therapeutic benefits, they remain illegal in most countries. The official reasoning behind their classification as a Schedule I substance is that they have “no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” However, this classification is increasingly being challenged by researchers and advocates.
The philosopher and ethnobotanist Terence McKenna once stated that psychedelics are not illegal because they are dangerous but because they challenge cultural and societal norms. Governments may fear the widespread use of substances that alter perception in ways that could disrupt established social structures.
Conclusion
The disparity between the legality of alcohol and psilocybin mushrooms raises important questions about how and why governments regulate substances. While alcohol causes millions of deaths worldwide each year and has severe long-term health consequences, it remains widely available and socially accepted. Meanwhile, psilocybin mushrooms, which have fewer harmful effects and significant potential therapeutic benefits, are illegal in most parts of the world.
Understanding these differences and advocating for evidence-based drug policies could lead to more rational regulations that prioritize public health and harm reduction over outdated stigmas and misconceptions.
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