Artist

Jack Antonoff Shares Tale of Life-Altering Mushroom Trip

Published March 8, 2024

Acclaimed singer and musician Jack Antonoff has publicly shared a powerful story about a mushroom trip that nearly turned deadly during a time when he was coping with his sister's tragic passing. The harrowing experience, which occurred when Antonoff was only 18 years old, involves a bout with overwhelming grief and a consequential journey into drug use that ultimately reshaped his outlook on life and substance use.

Grieving Through Psychedelics

Antonoff described a harrowing night where coping with the loss led him to consume a large quantity of mushrooms with friends. This decision plunged him into a terrifying state that left a lasting impression. "I completely lost my mind," he recounted, revealing the distressing effects of the psychedelics compounded by his emotional turmoil at the time.

A Pivotal Decision

The alarming encounter with the psychedelic mushrooms was transformative for Antonoff. "And I think it was a combination of how much I took and the grief", he expressed, indicating how deeply the episode had shaken him. Since then, he's made a clear decision to stay away from drugs, gravitating instead towards maintaining control over his own state of being. "I never wanted to be out of control again," Antonoff affirmed, signaling a profound shift in his perspective following the ordeal.

Life After the Trip

Antonoff went on to observe the patterns of drug use among his peers, especially before the awareness of the risks became more pronounced with the fentanyl epidemic. The musician credits the terrifying experience not only with steering him away from drugs but also with being a stroke of luck that it didn't lead him down more destructive paths.

Reflecting on his brush with danger, Antonoff feels a sense of gratitude. He now considers the mushroom trip to be an educational low point that inadvertently set his life on a more positive trajectory. At present, he might indulge in the occasional drink, but he stays clear of any behavior that might lead him to lose control.

Through sharing his experience, Antonoff hopes to shed light on the gravity of drug use and the importance of confronting personal grief without resorting to substance abuse. This lesson, learned the hard way, now fundamentally influences his day-to-day choices and his approach to living a healthy and mindful life.

singer, mushrooms, sobriety