What is Dimethyltryptamine? DMT Effects, Dangers, & Abuse

What is Dimethyltryptamine?

N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a compound naturally found in numerous plants and animals, including humans. People have been using DMT for its psychedelic or hallucinogenic effects. This substance is prepared and utilized by various cultures, contributing to its historical significance in different ceremonial practices and as a recreational drug.

According to research published by the US NCBI PubMed, the experiences derived from the administration of hallucinogens, including DMT, are often compared to dream states. However, the experience of administering hallucinogenic substances is far more intense, robust, and overwhelming than the subtlety of mere dreams. [1]

According to the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2019, around 5.6 million people aged 12 or older reported using hallucinogens, including DMT. Still, the prevalence of hallucinogen use tends to be lower compared to substances like marijuana, alcohol, or prescription drugs. [2]

Dimethyltryptamine Extraction

DMT extraction, synthesis, or production is illegal in the US.

It has gained popularity as a drug of abuse in the 1960s. Today, it is still encountered on the illicit market along with several other tryptamine hallucinogens. DMT in several plants can be extracted or synthetically produced in clandestine labs. [5]

How is DMT Used?

DMT is generally smoked or consumed orally in brews like Ayahuasca. Other methods of use include:

• Vaporizing.
• Snorting (less common).
• Injecting (rare).
• Buccal administration.
• Intranasal administration.
• Sublingual administration.
• Rectal administration (less common).
• Oral consumption (ineffective without an MAOI). 

How Long Does DMT Last?

Generally, a DMT experience doesn’t last long compared with certain other hallucinogens. DMT’s effects when smoked are quick to start and pass quickly—usually between five and twenty minutes.

When taken orally as part of the ayahuasca brew, the effects might linger for a few hours, usually four to six hours. Ayahuasca is an Amazonian psychoactive brew of two main components. Its active agents are β-carboline and tryptamine derivatives. [6]

DMT Side Effects

DMT trips can trigger a mental health condition and lead to flashbacks. The most common side effects of DMT also include the following:

• Increased heart rate.
• Elevated blood pressure.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Intense visual and auditory hallucinations.
• Altered sense of time.
• Profound emotional experiences.
• Anxiety or panic reactions.
• Paranoia.
• Sweating or chills.
• Impaired coordination.

DMT can produce wildly unpredictable – and sometimes very fearful – effects, which feed off an individual’s imagination. If panic sets in, the experience can be terrifying and confusing. [7]

Is DMT Addictive?

According to research recorded in the US PubMed Journal Review, unlike many hallucinogens, there is little evidence that DMT causes physical withdrawal symptoms or tolerance. This is why researchers generally do not think that DMT is habit-forming. Also, there is no evidence using DMT on a long-term basis significantly changes or damages a human’s brain. However, DMT can cause psychological dependence when an individual frequently uses it to escape reality. Some DMT users even believe that the drug is a source of therapy and take it regularly to feel better. [8]

When you use DMT in this way, you may eventually feel incapable of stopping using DMT and other hallucinogens. The typical behaviors that indicate DMT addiction include:

• Taking higher and more recurring usage of the drug.
• Gathering supplies of it.
• Spending more money on it.

Dimethyltryptamine Death

DMT is not considered lethal in typical use, and fatal overdoses are extremely rare. However, like any powerful psychedelic substance, DMT can induce intense and unpredictable psychological effects. The risk of harm is more associated with the psychological impact rather than the substance itself being directly toxic in typical doses.

The use of DMT carries risks, and individuals with a history of mental health issues or those who are susceptible to anxiety or panic reactions may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects. [9]

DMT Addiction Treatment

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there has been growing research interest in the potential of psychedelic and dissociative drugs to treat medical conditions, including mental health disorders. Unfortunately, an increasing number of individuals also report taking these drugs, including DMT, outside of medical settings. [10] This problem interferes with research on the psychedelics’ potential.

Consult a mental health expert or addiction specialist for advice if you think a loved one may be misusing DMT or any other substance. DMT rehab therapy may benefit from a treatment strategy that includes counseling, inpatient care, or a combination of treatments. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling are often employed techniques to comprehend the causes of psychedelic usage and create coping mechanisms.

What is Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)? DMT Trip and DMT Effects in the Brain | Informative Video