On the Radar: ‘Magic Mushrooms,’ ‘Chroming’ and  ‘Sharenting’

Psilocybin-related Calls More Than Tripled Among Teens

What? Psilocybin, aka “magic mushrooms,” is a hallucinogenic drug that some states and cities have begun to decriminalize (for those 21 and older.)

So What? Despite not being commercially available to teens, calls to U.S. poison centers involving such mushrooms have tripled among those aged 13-19. A full 75% of children who were exposed solely to the drug experienced adverse side effects, also known as a “bad trip,” and required medical attention.

Now What? Parents need to recognize the potential symptoms of a bad reaction to psilocybin, including hallucinations, delusions, agitation, abnormally fast heart rate and confusion. And it should also be noted that the drug is available in alternate edible forms, such as chocolate and gummies, which could increase the risk of accidental consumption.

“Chroming” Challenge Is Fatal

What? “Chroming involves inhaling the fumes from common household items like aerosol cans, nail polish remover, paint solvents and cleaning products to get high, while teens film the process and results to post online,” says New York Post.

So What? An 11-year-old boy from the United Kingdom died of cardiac arrest after attempting the challenge at a friend’s house.

Now What? I’ve said it before, and I will continue saying it: talk to your kids about the dangers of social media challenges. If your child isn’t a teenager or even if they don’t have their own devices yet, it might be easy to think that they’ll be safe. But clearly, children too young to set up social media accounts (TikTok, which is where the boy found the challenge, requires users to be 13 or older) are finding ways to get around that. And if their friends have accounts, or even if an older sibling gives them access, they are at risk.

“Sharenting” Can Have Lasting Effects on Your Kids

What? According to POPSUGAR, “Sharenting” is when you share “photos, videos, personal stories, and other updates” about your child online. “Grandsharenting” is an offshoot of this wherein grandparents share about their grandchildren.

So What? Besides an ethical dilemma around consent, experts are saying that as children get older and begin “social comparison”—which is when you compare yourself to others—they may develop anxiety and self-esteem issues, worrying about what photos or videos have been posted about them online.

Now What? Well, you could obviously stop posting photos of your kids or grandkids online. But that may not be fair, since many parents use social media as a way to share what’s happening in their family with friends and extended family members who may live farther away. So if you decide to post things about your kids, be sure not to include private details, such as where they go to school or what neighborhood you live in. Try to be open with your kids about what you’re posting online, too. Show them the photos you plan to post and ask them how it makes them feel. And finally, Dr. Roots (a child psychiatrist and co-founder of Bend Health) says to start teaching them about “the importance of being themselves and not comparing themselves to others online or needing to be perfect.”