While the desired symptoms of psilocybin mushroom use are hallucinations and euphoria, magic mushrooms can also cause unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and intense hallucinations.[3] As mushroom chocolate bars seem to grow in popularity, there is concern children may accidentally consume these mushrooms as well as adults who aren’t fully prepared for the experience.
What Are They?
Mushroom chocolate bars are simply chocolate bars that contain magic mushrooms. These are mushrooms that contain the hallucinogenic psilocybin. These bars are a recreational drug in candy form.
At present, mushroom chocolate bars exist in a legal gray area. The mushrooms in these bars are technically illegal in many areas, but anecdotally, these bars appear to be getting more common. They are being advertised on social media, sold online, and can often be purchased under the counter at stores such as cannabis boutiques, smoke shops, and corner bodegas.[4]
One notable risk of these bars not present with typical shrooms is that they are more attractive to children. While it isn’t entirely clear to what degree these candy bars have contributed, there has been an uptick in children admitted to poison centers for accidental ingestion of shrooms in the time frame these bars have started to become popular.
Admittedly, this is still a rare occurrence (with 22 cases in April 2023 out of more than 50 million children). There appear to have been no cases in which this accidental ingestion was fatal.[4]
How Do They Work & What Is Typically Cut in These Products?
For the most part, mushroom chocolate bars are typical chocolate bars with magic mushroom doses added. There are different varieties available that may have distinct additional ingredients. Sometimes, these ingredients are listed on the packaging, but it should be noted that these bars don’t appear to be well-regulated.
Psilocybin is what is called a psychedelic tryptamine. When ingested, the body converts it into psilocin (a chemical which itself is also in magic mushrooms).[5] Psilocin will generally cause a user to experience a sense of euphoria and well-being along with vivid perceptual changes, with a user seeing and hearing things that aren’t always there.[6] This is why these drugs are termed hallucinogens.
Side Effects of Mushroom Chocolate Bars
Magic mushrooms are associated with several side effects beyond the effects a person typically takes the mushrooms to experience. Shrooms are known to cause the following:[6]
- Headaches
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Stomach discomfort and nausea
- Vomiting
- Increased body temperature
- Facial flushing, sweating, and chills
- Fast breathing
Magic mushrooms aren’t typically associated with life-threatening symptoms even if taken in high doses. However, they can potentially lead to serious symptoms, which might be situationally dangerous, including these:[6]
- Diarrhea
- Muscle weakness
- Panic
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Coma
Some people who ingest shrooms may experience a “bad trip.”[7] Rather than the pleasant euphoria and vivid but harmless hallucinations typically associated with shrooms, a person may experience intense and/or unpleasant hallucinations. They may also experience anxiety, paranoia, and other negative emotions.[7]
Are Mushroom Chocolate Bars More Addictive Than Typical Shrooms?
Fundamentally, mushroom chocolate bars are just magic mushrooms in chocolate. Psilocybin mushrooms aren’t associated with causing physical dependence or significant withdrawal symptoms.[8] While a person may struggle with shroom abuse, it isn’t common that one would be so psychologically dependent that it would be considered an addiction.
Nothing about putting mushrooms in chocolate will meaningfully change this, for better or worse. While the chocolate may make the experience of actually ingesting the mushrooms more pleasant, chocolate isn’t an addictive substance in the same way we think of substances of abuse. Because these bars are poorly regulated, it isn’t unthinkable that some bars might contain other more addictive substances, but there don’t appear to be widespread reports of this happening.
That being said, if you have been using shrooms for a while, it’s a good idea to get professional help with recovery. This can include assistance and support in the detox process as you move away from using substances of abuse.
Getting Help for Shroom Abuse
If you or a loved one struggles with using magic mushrooms or any other substance, reach out to us here at Boca Recovery Center. Our experts have helped clients stop the use of all substances of abuse and build a healthier life in recovery. With our mushroom addiction treatment services, we can help you embrace a better quality of life. Contact us today.
- The popularity of microdosing of psychedelics: What does the science say? MD PG. Harvard Health. Published September 19, 2022. Accessed February 17, 2024.
- Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook. Anderson T, Petranker R, Christopher A, et al. Harm Reduction Journal. 2019;16(1).
- Psilocybin. United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Published 2019. Accessed February 17, 2024.
- Cartoon packaging and an ‘inconsolable’ high: when magic mushroom chocolate gets into the wrong hands. The Guardian. Published June 12, 2023. Accessed February 17, 2024.
- Pharmacokinetics of escalating doses of oral psilocybin in healthy adults. Brown RT, Nicholas CR, Cozzi NV, et al. Clinical Pharmacokinetics. 2017;56(12):1543-1554.
- Psilocybin (magic mushrooms). Australian ADF. Published November 22, 2023. Accessed February 17, 2024.
- Self-reported negative outcomes of psilocybin users: A quantitative textual analysis. Bienemann B, Ruschel NS, Campos ML, Negreiros MA, Mograbi DC. Carrà G, ed. PLOS ONE. 2020;15(2):e0229067.
- The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act. Johnson MW, Griffiths RR, Hendricks PS, Henningfield JE. Neuropharmacology. 2018;142(142):143-166.
