Key points
Magic mushrooms hold medical potential, but there are risks that aren’t often discussed.
Cannabis, mushrooms, and ADHD stimulants—all correlated to psychosis—isn’t an unusual cocktail for youth.
If there’s a family history of psychosis, parents/providers should be extra vigilant for the above equation.
Source: Shes_From_Texas/Pixabay Psilocybin has a colorful history (pun intended). The active ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” psilocybin etymologically translates to “bare headed” or “stripped bare” (Etymonline, 2025) referencing the fact that the pellicle, or slimy film, of the fungus, is easily slipped off the Smurfy proliferates.
Long before the more scientific term, however, the Aztecs, who used it for ceremonial purposes, called it teonanacatl (Nichols, 2020) translating to “god’s flesh,” so magical were the properties considered to be. Modern trends in psilocybin
Like many things once appreciated in moderation, magic mushrooms were popularized in the 1960’s and gained a reputation as a drug of abuse. Today, when we add social media to the equation, the interest level grows exponentially, especially with science suggesting ideas about its medicinal use. Indeed, there have been some promising results for the treatment of depression , anxiety , and alcohol abuse (e.g., National Institute of Health, 2024).
Armed with such favorable study results, and research suggesting psilocybin is not particularly addictive, states like Massachusetts have put it to the voters on whether or not to make psilocybin legal; it was voted down there in November, but as recently as February 2025, State Rep. Steven Owens continued to push for its adoption (Creato, 2025).
It has indeed been documented by some researchers (e.g. Woodburn et al., 2024) that psilocybin, when carefully-monitored dosing occurs, has been shown to extinguish the fear response in traumatized or phobic people, and engenders a neuroplasticity that encourages retention of the reduced tendency to be fearful.Despite this, researchers like Michael Hasselmo of Boston University’s Center for Systems Neuroscience have cautioned that, while psilocybin may well hold some promise in monitored treatment, there are risks—whether carefully dosed or used recreationally—for the potential to accelerate psychosis development in those with genetic loading (e.g., Barron, 2023; Creato, 2025). Hasselmo has encouraged more research […]
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