The responsibility of responsible psychedelic consumption lies with the consumer alone at present, as no universal, trusted guidance is available. Without appropriate education, support, and access, the risk of grotesque psychedelic trips going viral is alarmingly high.
Cherruy Loghan Sevilla is alleged to have broken off a piece of a bathroom door and then assaulted multiple flight attendants mid-flight last week while under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms, according to reports. The incident has since gone viral, thanks to the unusual nature of the story.
According to the Washington Post, Sevilla was arrested on October 4 when his plane landed at Washington Dulles International Airport. Despite being handcuffed, the would-be mile high tripper was still yelling obscenities and meaningless noises, according to an FBI affidavit filed by Special Agent Daniel Markey.
In his affidavit, Markey details the account of a father and daughter sitting near Sevilla on a flight to Washington, D.C. After watching the passenger’s bizarre behaviour “an hour” into the trip, the incidents escalated when Sevilla grabbed the daughter’s arm. According to him, it was Sevilla’s psilocybin-fueled actions that resulted in a miserable trip to Washington, D.C., which prompted them to sit elsewhere.
Despite the fact that psychedelics are not to be taken casually, the general population is still poorly informed about the risks of these substances, and there is a need for a protected location (an airplane is not one).
Contrary to Sevilla’s reportedly poor decision to take psilocybin in an airplane, the story is actually one of someone foolishly choosing to for the first time in a public setting. In fact, Sevilla reportedly told authorities after his arrest that not only had he never before tried psilocybin, but that he was not surprised by his behaviour after doing so.
“A bad idea to begin with, and a guaranteed bad trip being in a confined space surrounded by strangers, but I won't judge if you can handle your sh-t. However, it is a different matter if you already know that you tend to act aggressively toward others when high,” one user said on the Shroomery forum.
The onus of responsible psychedelic consumption remains squarely on the shoulders of consumers themselves, as no universal, trusted guidance exists. Without proper education, support, and access, the risk of bad psychedelic trips going viral remains alarmingly high.
Comments