Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Prevalence, user characteristics and abuse liability in a large global sample

This survey-based paper (n=22,289) presents original research on prevalence, user characteristics, and effect profile of DMT. The authors found that within this population (WEIRD, Global Drug Survey) lifetime prevalence was 8.9% and past-year prevalence use was 5%.

Abstract

“This paper presents original research on prevalence, user characteristics and effect profile of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent hallucinogenic which acts primarily through the serotonergic system. Data were obtained from the Global Drug Survey (an anonymous online survey of people, many of whom have used drugs) conducted between November and December 2012 with 22,289 responses. Lifetime prevalence of DMT use was 8.9% (n=1980) and past year prevalence use was 5.0% (n=1123). We explored the effect profile of DMT in 472 participants who identified DMT as the last new drug they had tried for the first time and compared it with ratings provided by other respondents on psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD and ketamine. DMT was most often smoked and offered a strong, intense, short-lived psychedelic high with relatively few negative effects or “come down”. It had a larger proportion of new users compared with the other substances (24%), suggesting its popularity may increase. Overall, DMT seems to have a very desirable effect profile indicating a high abuse liability that maybe offset by a low urge to use more.”

Authors: Adam R. Winstock, Stephen Kaar & Rohan Borschmann

Summary

Introduction

DMT is a naturally occurring tryptamine that induces visual hallucinations, distortions of spatial perception and body image, disturbances of thoughts and euphoria in humans. It was first studied in the 1950s and 1960s, but waned in popularity until Strassman pioneered contemporary research into hallucinogens. Recent research has suggested that the serotonergic and NMDA receptors might be involved in the disturbed cortical processes found in schizophrenia.

DMT is an indolealkylamine hallucinogen derived from the amino acid tryptophan. It is non-selective for 5-HT receptors, has moderate to high affinity for 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 subtypes, and has putative activity at sigma-1 receptors which are ubiquitous across the central nervous system.

This paper presents original research on the prevalence, user characteristics and effect profile of DMT, a potent hallucinogenic which acts primarily through the serotonergic system. DMT had a higher proportion of new users compared to psilocybin, LSD and ketamine.

DMT produces profound changes to cognition and perception, particularly in the visual, auditory and somatosensory systems, and mild stimulant effects with physiological changes.

DMT is a naturally occurring drug with a long history of use. The current study sought to determine its prevalence and comparative effect profile relative to other commonly used psychedelics within a large contemporary global population of drug users.

Methods

The Global Drug Survey conducts annual anonymous online surveys of drug and alcohol use in partnership with global media partners. The results are used to identify new drugs of abuse before they reach the wider community.

Results

Between November and December 2012, 22,289 responses were received worldwide. Of these, 7360 (33.0%) respondents were from the UK, 7784 (34.9%) from Australia, 3756 (16.9%) from the USA and 2164 (9.7%) from the Euro zone.

Demographic characteristics

Summary of results of those for whom DMT was the “last new drug tried”

DMT and other psychedelic drugs were ranked against seven broad drug-effect variables by users, including pleasurable effect when high, strength of effect, negative effect when high, comedown, risk of harm when high, value for money, and urge to use more.

We also report foot-printing data from participants who nominated magic mushrooms, LSD or ketamine as being the last drug they had tried for the first time. The prevalence of lifetime psychedelic use was considerable.

The differences between routes of administration across the four substances examined are shown in Table 3, and the duration of effect for each substance is shown in Table 4. DMT had the shortest mean duration of effect at 23.8 minutes.

Discussion

This study represents the largest global study of DMT users ever conducted. It suggests that DMT may be an increasingly popular substance for those seeking an alternative to traditionally available hallucinogens.

From a drug user’s perspective, DMT possesses favourable characteristics in terms of strength of effect, pleasurability, and lack of negative effects, suggesting that DMT could have a high abuse liability. Fortunately, this short duration of action did not appear to translate into a higher urge to use more DMT when using.

DMT is rated as stronger than ketamine, magic mushrooms and LSD by most users, but 14% found the effects to be different. This may be explained by the limited drug use experience of a minority of respondents.

The most common method of administration of DMT is by smoking a mixture of DMT-containing constituents. This method leads to a strong, pleasurable psychedelic experience.

DMT has a reasonable safety profile, with few users reporting significant negative effects. Its main risks are likely to be of severe serotonin syndrome, but this risk may be negated through administration via smoking.

In this study, new DMT users were more likely to be younger, male and in education, compared with those with lifetime DMT use and those who have never used DMT. The context in which DMT was used is unknown.

Although the study participants were self-nominating, it is the largest study of DMT use ever conducted. The findings are limited by the nature and scope of self-reported experiences enquired about in the current study and by the lack of way of confirming the true composition of substance consumed. We accept that this method of study has significant limitations, but we believe that it can usefully guide future research as well as inform those who choose to use novel substances.

Conclusions

A sample of 472 new users of DMT described it as a short, intense and pleasurable experience with negligible negative effects. DMT was typically smoked and its potential for abuse appears to be low.