Diamond Shruumz products linked to illnesses in 20 states. (Representative image)
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested a microdose psychedelic candy, which has supposedly caused a plethora of illnesses across 20 states.
The FDA highlighted certain compounds of the product which could have possibly caused the illnesses. This calls for a poor state of regulation in a market responding to the rapidly growing interest in psychedelics for both health and recreational purposes.
The manufacturer of the candies, cones and gummies was the Diamond Shruumz brand. They have their headquarters in Santa Ana California. Reports reveal that as of now around 39 people have been affected in 20 states.
The affected states are Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The FDA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are working in partnership with the USA’s poison centers, and state and local partners. Their bodies will help determine what caused the incidents. According to reports, there have been 39 illnesses and 23 hospitalizations. However, there haven’t been any casualties so far.
Muscimol, a chemical found in mushrooms of the genus Amanita was the reason behind the products being recalled. The patients reported consistent symptoms of illness after consuming the products of Diamond Shruumz.
The FDA mentioned that there have been cases of symptoms in patients like seizures, agitation, involuntary muscle contractions, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting, abnormal heart rates, and hyper/hypotension.
A semi-synthetic compound Psilacetin when broken down would produce the psychoactive chemical psilocin. The health effects of the substance still remain unknown, which could ascertain whether any other ingredient was responsible for all the illnesses.
Chemicals which are consistent with additives from Piper methysticum, also called kava. It has led the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to give a written warning of the potential clinical effects of ingesting the plant.
The CDC notes that ingesting kava could cause numbness in the mouth and skin, also causing loss of coordination, dizziness and sedation. “Ingestion of kava with other substances known to cause sedation, such as benzodiazepines or alcohol, can worsen sedation. Kava can also cause gastrointestinal effects such as nausea and vomiting” it said.
Psychedelic drugs are no longer limited to the past. As of now, drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms have been in vogue. While this form of the drug has its benefits, in recent times there have many instances of misuse.
Sometimes the accessibility and affordability of these substances can pose serious health concerns. Some of the possible causes of the misuse of these drugs involve altered brain development, prevailing mental disorders, and lots more.
Healthcare professionals advise that the public needs to understand the difference between registered medical ones and normal products available in the market. Even though it’s difficult to gauge the way forward a sustainable way forward would be for mental health providers to openly communicate with healthcare providers to make sure there are various guidelines which are evidence-based, to actually help with illnesses.
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Gairika Mitra Gairika is a technology nerd, an introvert, and an avid reader. Lock her up in a room full of books, and you'll never hear her complain.
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