Perhaps the greatest danger posed by psilocybin as a mycotoxin is that people hunting for mushrooms, may find themselves consuming something different and a lot more dangerous. Galerina autumnalis and other amanitoxin bearing "little brown mushrooms" may be mistaken for the hallucinogenic species. There has even been a report of children inhaling the spores of Lycoperdon puffballs in the hopes of getting high, only to cause destruction to their lungs.
Mushrooms are not physically addicting and not likely to cause psychological dependence. Many people actually find that their desire to use mushrooms goes down for a period of time after use. Individuals currently in the midst of emotional or psychological upheaval in their everyday lives should be careful about choosing to use psychedelics such as mushrooms because they can trigger even more difficulty. Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or early onset mental illness should be extremely careful because mushrooms have been known to trigger latent psychological and mental problems. Physically or psychologically unsettling events in the days before a Mushroom trip can blossom into more serious distress and trauma while tripping.
They are normally eaten raw, but can also be boiled into a liquid form. Mushrooms can be cooked, heated with water to make a tea or soup. Mushrooms can also be added to an omelet, pizza, or another dish just like regular mushrooms. Some species have to be cooked first to avoid poisoning. .
The effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms depend on the body weight and mood of the taker, size of dose, and the way it is taken. The overall effects of psilocybin are similar to those of LSD. Effects are primarily psychological and perceptual, which range from relaxation, intensification of color, sense of well-being, separation from surroundings, emotional effects such as religious ecstasy or anxiety, visual and auditory hallucinations, feelings of heaviness or lightness, difficulty concentrating, dilation of pupils, and may result in muscular limpness which can lead to a fatal respiratory depression.