'Magic' mushrooms are safer than alcohol, study finds

Magic mushrooms are reportedly the safest of all drugs, including alcohol, according to a new survey released Wednesday.

The data was released by Global Drug Survey, an independent British research company, which polled more than 120,000 people in 50 countries and found that only 0.2% of people who took psilocybe semilanceata (aka mushrooms) needed emergency medical treatment.

That rate was at least five times lower than those who took ecstasy (or MDMA), LSD, cocaine and even alcohol.

“Magic mushrooms are one of the safest drugs in the world,” Adam Winstock, M.D, founder of the Global Drug Survey and consultant addiction psychiatrist, said in the report.

"The rate is considerably lower than with LSD presumably because of intrinsic safety of magic mushrooms (the greatest risk is picking the wrong type), the smaller dosing using units (a single mushroom versus an LSD tab) and a greater understanding of how many mushrooms may constitute a typical dose for a desired effect,” Winstock added.

He warns, however, that there are risks with consuming magic mushrooms such as intense feelings of panic and anxiety that can be later accompanied by a psychedelic experience, or “trip.”

Additionally, the survey found that the U.K. had one of the highest rates of those seeking emergency medical services as a result of taking cocaine and MDMA of greater purity.

"We need to educate users about purity levels and the impact that they have on their bodies,” Winstock said.

The goal of the Global Drug Survey is to help promote honest conversations about drugs and raise safety awareness.