Magic mushrooms' effect lasts a year

The feelings of happiness and well-being caused by magic mushrooms can last 14 months, research has shown.

Researchers monitored 36 candidates who had taken the illegal drug, nearly all of whom rated the experience as being fulfilling and ‘spiritually important’. After 14 months, 64% said they still felt an increase in life-satisfaction, feeling more creative, self-confident and optimistic.

The lead author of the study, Professor Roland Griffiths from John Hopkins University, said that the finding was ‘truly remarkable’. He noted that it was unusual to ‘obtain such consistently positive reports’.

Fourteen months after taking the drug, most candidates rated their experience as in their top five experiences.

The researchers believe that Psilocybin, a naturally occurring chemical found in the mushrooms can help treat drug dependency. The hallucinogenic properties may also be beneficial to people suffering from cancer-related anxiety or depression, according to Griffiths.

However hallucinogens are particularly dangerous to people at risk of mental disorders such as psychosis, the researchers stressed.