Psilocybin

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ng/ml

Cut-Off Levels

Urine Specimen: 500 ng/mL

WOD

Window of Detection Times

Urine Specimen: 1 – 3 Days

What is Psilocybin?

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms commonly known as “magic mushrooms.” Once ingested, psilocybin is rapidly converted by the body into psilocin, the active compound responsible for its psychoactive effects. In its natural form, psilocybin-containing mushrooms typically appear dried or fresh and may range in color from tan to brown with distinctive caps and stems; illicit forms may also appear as ground powders, capsules, or infused edibles. Users consume psilocybin recreationally for its hallucinogenic properties, including altered perception, mood shifts, and changes in consciousness. While not used medicinally in standard clinical practice today, psilocybin is under investigation in research settings for potential therapeutic applications in depression, anxiety, and addiction—but these uses remain experimental and highly regulated.

Recreational use often involves swallowing whole mushrooms, drinking them as tea, or consuming ground powder. Effects generally begin within 20–40 minutes and can last 4–6 hours. Because potency varies significantly between mushroom species and batches, users face unpredictable experiences and potential risks such as panic, paranoia, impaired judgment, and dangerous behavior during hallucinations. From a toxicology standpoint, psilocybin is challenging to detect using typical point-of-care rapid tests because it quickly metabolizes into psilocin, which requires more specialized laboratory methodologies for confirmation. As a result, most rapid POC panels do not include psilocybin, and testing is typically reserved for forensic or clinical lab settings when needed.

Effects:

Altered sensory perception (visual distortions, enhanced colors)
Mood shifts ranging from euphoria to anxiety
Changes in time perception and sense of reality
Intensified emotions and introspection
Hallucinations (primarily visual)
Nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort
Impaired judgment and coordination
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Potential for panic, paranoia, or “bad trips”
Rare but possible persistent perceptual disturbances (HPPD)

Commons Slang Terms:

Magic mushrooms
Shrooms
Mushies
Boomers
Caps and stems
Psilocybes
Boomers
Golden tops
Blue meanies
Zoomers

Legal Status:

Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, meaning it has no federally recognized medical use and a high potential for abuse. This strict legal classification limits its availability to controlled research environments and makes possession, distribution, or use illegal at the federal level, though a small number of U.S. jurisdictions have decriminalized personal possession. Despite this shifting landscape, psilocybin remains fully prohibited in virtually all workplace, government, treatment, and supervised testing programs.

For point-of-care toxicology programs, psilocybin presents a unique challenge. Because it metabolizes rapidly into psilocin and has a short detection window, psilocybin is not included on most rapid immunoassay POC drug panels. When testing is required for forensic, clinical, or legal purposes, programs rely on laboratory-based confirmatory methods such as LC-MS/MS. Testing programs must also understand that psilocybin use cannot be identified through standard multi-panel workplace tests unless specialized orders are made, and results typically cannot be obtained at the point of care.