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Monday 13 February RNW - NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE NETHERLANDS IN 10 LANGUAGES, WORLDWIDE 24/7 ON RADIO, TV AND ONLINE

Alternatives to magic mushrooms harmful

Published on 27 November 2009 - 2:46pm

Magic mushroom replacements sold by smartshops can be as addictive as the outlawed halllucinatory mushrooms themselves. Psychiatrist and drugs counseler Don Linszen warned on Dutch public radio against the risks of replacement drugs.

Since the sale of magic mushrooms was banned in the Netherlands a year ago, smartshops rely on the replacements, such as truffles and "tripping tubers". Dr Linszen says these can cause extreme fear, depression or psychoses. His recommendation is to steer clear of truffles and tubers if mental disease runs in your family.

 

  • Magic mushrooms: Psilocybe semilanceata (Wikimedia commons/Patrick Ullrich)

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Discussion

rubby 15 October 2010 - 2:17pm

I wonder why would anyone would wanna have these mushrooms? I didn't read about any benefit, what are they good for? For getting high? Well, extreme fear isn't exactly high, is it? I think the addiction treatment centers should be warned about this new drug too, they need to come prepared with proper treatment for it. What a sad reality we live in!

stinky 28 March 2010 - 6:27am / uk

Since when have magic mushrooms been addictive, complete and utter rubish, it is the standard line of Psychiatrists and drugs counselers here in the uk as well.
The inacurate statements about cannabis strength are also mirrored here in the uk, I am old enough to know living in the uk, and visiting holland in the past and present that claims about cannabis strength are simply not true

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