‘Magic mushrooms’ are harmful

By Kath Gannaway
READILY available crops of hallucinogenic mushrooms in Healesville have police worried.
Sergeant Tony Van Gorp confirmed reports made to the Mail last week that groups of young people are experimenting with “magic mushrooms”.
“These kids are getting high on these mushrooms, which are everywhere at the moment,” said one local resident who didn’t want to be named.
She said she knew of two cases where young people had become violently ill after eating the mushrooms.
Another, a parent of a local high school student, said the practice was common knowledge among the town’s young people.
Sgt Van Gorp said police were aware of young teenagers eating a particular type of mushroom which can have damaging side effects.
“Basically these mushrooms are growing all around the town and the fact they are prepared to take risks with them are a real concern,” he said.
While there have been no reports of anyone having been hospitalised, Sgt Van Gorp said there are fears that it’s only a matter of time before someone has a severe reaction.
Information on the Victorian Health Department sponsored online Better Health Channel states that a study undertaken by the Victorian Poisons Information Centre and the Royal Botanic Gardens found that people who deliberately ate wild mushrooms in the hope of experiencing a drug-related hallucination were extremely likely to get sick.
The most common symptoms were gastrointestinal upsets such as vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pains.
They advised anyone who suspects they may have eaten a poisonous mushroom should not wait for symptoms to occur but seek immediate medical treatment.
A spokesperson for the Poisons Information Centre at the Royal Children’s Hospital told the Mail there are two types of mushroom in particular which can cause hallucinogenic reactions, but said there are also varieties which have the potential for serious damage.
“I would say there is certainly a possibility of someone looking for this sort of thing getting a poisonous one in Victoria,” he said.
Further information is available from the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126.