Mushroom madness or mental health miracle? A trippy tale from Fort Thomas

Magic (psilocybin) mushrooms

Staff Reports

FORT THOMAS — In a twist that can only be described as alarming and enlightening, a woman turned an evening of experimental tea into a potential case study on using magic (psilocybin) mushrooms. 

According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, the night began innocuously enough on New Year’s Day when a woman, visiting her boyfriend at his mother’s home on N. Desert Sage Road, decided to pair her evening marijuana session with a cup of mushroom tea. However, what was meant to be a chill night took a turn for the psychedelic when the woman started feeling less like Alice in Wonderland and more like Alice in Panicland.

First responders from Fort Thomas Rescue were dispatched at about 9:30 p.m. and arrived to find the woman in distress. The boyfriend, who had also sipped the magical brew, could not drive. 

After a thorough assessment, EMS decided the woman could sleep off her ordeal at home, although she was offered (and declined) a ride to the hospital. This decision was quickly reversed when her symptoms didn’t subside, leading her boyfriend to call back for help, only to learn that their friendly neighborhood officer couldn’t moonlight as an Uber. The couple was advised they could request medical transport (an ambulance) or arrange a ride through a local ride service such as Gila Valley Rides, and a phone number was provided for them. The couple advised they would call dispatch and request medical transport to the hospital. 

Now, while this story might sound like a cautionary tale about the dangers of home-brewed psychedelics, it inadvertently shines a light on the growing body of research suggesting potential mental health benefits from psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms. 

Potential Health Benefits of Psilocybin:

  • Anxiety and Depression: Studies, including those from Johns Hopkins University, have shown that psilocybin can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, particularly in patients with life-threatening cancer diagnoses. 
  • PTSD: Preliminary research suggests that psilocybin-assisted therapy could help in processing traumatic memories, offering a new window into PTSD treatment.
  • Addiction: There’s emerging evidence that psilocybin can help in breaking patterns of substance abuse, giving users a psychological reset.
  • Neuroplasticity: Psilocybin has been shown to promote neurogenesis and increase neural connectivity, potentially aiding cognitive and emotional flexibility.

While this woman’s night was more of a “what-not-to-do” guide, it inadvertently sparked a conversation about the potential of psychedelics in clinical settings. Of course, this comes with a hefty disclaimer: consuming mushrooms in an uncontrolled environment is not the way to explore these benefits. 

The incident ended calmly after the woman was transported to the hospital for a check-up, ensuring her safe and sound return to reality. This tale from Fort Thomas reminds us that while magic mushrooms might offer profound mental health benefits, they should be approached with caution and respect and, preferably, under clinical supervision rather than through homemade tea.

In the meantime, perhaps this couple will stick to herbal teas without a side of existential crisis.