The Psilocybin Mushroom Pandemic
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs – January 01, 1975
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
The 1975 "Psilocybin Mushroom Pandemic" revealed a significant public health concern, detailing widespread hallucinogen use and associated polydrug abuse. This historical account from the Journal of Psychedelic Drugs documented an estimated 15% rise in reported mushroom poisoning incidents across certain regions, alongside concerns about Psilocybin's potent neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. While distinct from modern viral outbreaks like Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak, it underscores how societal challenges, from medicine to virology, grapple with widespread phenomena. It offers a unique lens on past "pandemics" of drug use.
Abstract
(1975). The Psilocybin Mushroom Pandemic. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 7, Polydrug Abuse, pp. 73-84.