Extremely poisonous drug mushroom discovered in Vietnam.

Outwardly indistinguishable from edible mushrooms or wild mushrooms, this is actually a type of narcotic mushroom because it contains an extremely potent narcotic substance, classified as one of the most dangerous drugs currently in existence.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Cuong, Team Leader of Team 2, Drug Crime Investigation Department, Hai Phong Police, said that this type of mushroom also has other names such as hallucinogenic mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms, magic mushrooms… Each mushroom is cut into 2-3 parts, and those with long stems can be cut into even more parts. And each small piece like this costs about 500,000 VND for the top quality.

The two active ingredients, Psilocine and Psilotcin, are the main cause of strong hallucinations in users. These two substances are listed as number 36 in Category 1 - substances absolutely prohibited for use in both medicine and social life - of Decree 73/2018/ND-CP regulating the list of narcotic substances and precursors.

These are natural active ingredients present in the mushroom, not added preservatives, which is why it provides a soothing sensation. According to Lieutenant Colonel Cuong, this type of mushroom grows quite commonly in many parts of the world, such as North America, Mexico, South America, the Scandinavian Peninsula, and some regions in Asia, and has recently been introduced to Vietnam.

Experts say the hallucinogenic substances in these mushrooms cause users to feel euphoric, lightheaded, and to laugh and cry inexplicably, making depressed people unusually cheerful. Specifically, each piece of mushroom is referred to in slang as a "trip." This could be an experience of going to heaven, hell, the moon, or the bottom of the ocean, according to the user's imagination, and the "trip" can last from 6 to 20 hours, depending on the user's physical condition and dosage.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc, from the Department of Substance Abuse Disorders at Hanoi Mental Hospital, stated that, in reality, some people with very weak constitutions become exhausted and unable to escape this hallucinatory journey without being awakened by others. The more they use, the more dependent they become on this extremely toxic drug. Scientists worldwide have yet to explain the strange mechanism by which the active ingredients in this magic mushroom affect users.

Lieutenant Colonel Cuong warned that, because they look like just mushrooms, it's very easy for young people to hide them in their pockets or wallets at some entertainment venues.