Christian teaching holds that while true believers cannot be possessed by demons because the Holy Spirit dwells within them, they can still experience external oppression, mental and emotional torment that may, at times, resemble conditions like schizophrenia.

This is especially concerning when individuals engage in substance use, such as psilocybin mushrooms or mushroom tea.
Psychedelics are known to produce powerful hallucinogenic effects, often described as a “trip.”
Throughout Canada, some clinics and organizations offer guided psilocybin experiences, presenting them in a way similar to how medical marijuana is used.

One example is Neuromed in Winnipeg. However, supervision does not remove the inherent risks.

Mushroom /psilocybin use is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Individuals who have had an emergency room visits or mental hospital stays related to psychedelic use show up to a twenty one fold higher risk of schizophrenia, and even after accounting for preexisting mental health or substance use issues, the risk remains approximately three and a half times higher.

Within three years of such an event, about four percent of individuals are diagnosed with schizophrenia, compared to just 0.15 percent in the general population.
This risk is estimated to be 4.7 times higher than alcohol-related cases and 1.5 times higher than cannabis.

Even in supervised or “therapeutic” environments, the danger persists,particularly for those who may already have a vulnerability to psychosis.