Using psilocybin socially
Illustration by Chloe Latour.
Maybe it’s a sign of how old I’m getting, but something about alcohol just doesn’t quite do it for me anymore. The hangover, the stupid decisions, the cost. Everything about going out to get drunk has become less and less appealing. Perhaps the biggest reason is how easy it is to lose control while drinking.
If I’m in a social situation, whether that be at a party or out on the town, losing control over my actions feels not only irresponsible but dangerous. With new research showing that alcohol is much worse for you than I’ve been led to believe, my appetite for liquor has gone down substantially.
But just because I’m not getting wasted doesn’t mean I want to stay completely sober. This is where I’ve started to turn toward the world of social psilocybin.
Psilocybin is the compound found in magic mushrooms that makes you feel high. At high doses, it can cause hallucinations and profound introspection. Until recently, I had only used psilocybin in high doses, and the thought of doing that in a public setting was terrifying. But then I discovered the world of microdosing.
Microdosing is the act of taking imperceptible amounts of psilocybin. It does not result in the same hallucination and introspection, only slight feelings of elation and openness.
I used microdosing on my own several times with enjoyable results, then I eventually ended up trying it in public as a replacement for alcohol.
I used alcohol mainly as a way to overcome my social anxiety and open up around people I didn’t know. When I replaced my drinking with a small dose of psilocybin, I was surprised by how similar the anxiety relieving effect was. Yet, with a small enough dose, I was able to feel like myself and in control while still being able to break down social barriers.
But I have found that eating mushrooms comes with its own risks. As someone with an incredibly weak stomach, I still haven’t been able to get past the effects that even just a tiny dose can have on my gut. Luckily, I haven’t thrown up from it yet, unlike my previous experiences with alcohol.
Additionally, I don’t love the taste of most fungi, and magic mushrooms unfortunately taste like rancid dirt. Luckily there are alternatives like powdered mushroom capsules or infused chocolate, which are also helpful for measuring an accurate dose.
Psilocybin is an incredibly emotional drug, and I’ve found that if I’m dealing with intense stress or trauma in my life, I can be forced to face it head on. This is why psilocybin is used in therapeutic fashions to help treat depression and PTSD.
If you plan to use psilocybin, figuring out the right dosage for yourself is of the utmost importance. Taking too much and being in the wrong headspace or environment can lead to a bad trip, which is something you might want to avoid if you’re not prepared to do some intense introspection.
Dosing can vary wildly depending on your weight, metabolism, and the strain of mushrooms being consumed. It’s important to figure out what works best for you, and to ignore any peer pressure from anyone telling you to have “just a bit more.”
Even though magic mushrooms seem to be all the rage at the moment, they are still illegal here in Canada.
While many drugs were decriminalized in B.C. last year, magic mushrooms were not. That means that it is possible to be fined if you are in possession of them without a prescription.
Mushroom dispensaries have begun opening up across Vancouver, and like cannabis dispensaries, they can feel more like you’re shopping in an Apple store rather than buying drugs.
I predict that like cannabis, magic mushrooms will soon be a regulated and legal industry in Canada. Until then though, the dispensaries selling the product are still at risk of raids and police closure.
While doing research I found very few documented instances of mushrooms laced with adulterants, however, we are living in an overdose crisis. Never consume substances if you are not sure of where they came from.
