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The Effects of DMT: Around The World In 15 Minutes

Suyash Tiwari

Drugs have always been an integral part of human culture and society. The human-drug interaction dates back to 13,000 years ago (Kelly). In various rituals across geographies, drugs are an important ingredient, often perceived as holy. Most of these drugs are hallucinogens or psychedelic. A psychedelic is a type of drug whose primary function is to activate hallucinogenic experiences via serotonin receptors, causing thought, visual and auditory s fluctuations, and an altered state of consciousness. Lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as acid or LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms are popular psychedelics amongst drug abusers. However, these are not the most powerful psychedelics. Dimethyltryptamine, commonly known as DMT, is arguably the strongest drug within the class of psychedelic. Through this blog, I’ll expound upon DMT’s history, routes of administration, side effects and user experiences.
 In 1931, Richard Helmuth Fredrick Manske was the first chemist to synthetize DMT. Microbiologist Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima also discovered that DMT is a naturally occurring substance and can be found in plants. There is evidence that DMT is also produced endogenously. In other words, it is produced naturally in the body, specifically in the pineal gland in the brain. The Amazonians used chacruna plant, which contains a high content of DMT, in several rituals and practices. However; unlike LSD strips, DMT present in the chacruna plant cannot be administered orally. It must be metabolized by the stomach enzymes, particularly monoamine oxidase.
A DMT trip seems to vary in duration and intensity depending on the means of administration. A typical doze of DMT in the form of vapour is generally inhaled in a few successive breaths. The trip lasts for 5 to 15 minutes, where the peak is reached within a minute. Psychiatrist Rick Strassman conducted a study in 1990, where subjects injected DMT. The participants claimed to perceive and interact with ‘other beings’.
              The primary effect of DMT is psychological, along with powerful visual and auditory hallucinations, euphoria, and the onset of a disproportionate sense of space, body, and time. Additionally, abusing DMT causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, with dilated pupils. Taking the drug orally can lead to severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. A DMT trip can range from extremely exciting to severely frightening. Sometimes, it gets difficult to differentiate between the ‘trip’ and the real world. A significant structural similarity between DMT and serotonin is established, which can lead to serotonin syndrome. Particularly, individuals taking antidepressants are more susceptible to this condition. A high concentration of serotonin can result in a loss of muscle coordination, agitation and prolonged headaches. At higher doses, DMT can cause seizures, respiratory arrest, and coma (Davis). Pre-existing psychological conditions, including but not limited to schizophrenia, can worsen with additional DMT abuse.
              Just after abusing DMT, users recall an almost numb sensation on their lips. After closing their eyes, most users see running lights and grid like shapes shooting in front of them. Kaleidoscopic designs with prisms are reported. The speed of the visuals is everchanging, with continuous spinning and morphing. Several reports of users document them meeting aliens or ‘other beings’ which are sometimes aware of the users’ existence. Movement through realms and incoherence of time and space is often testified. A 15-minute trip can appear to be several lifetimes to the user. The trip can also be life changing, people have quit smoking and drinking after a DMT trip, and artists have stated that their imagination and work has improved after consuming DMT. Thought certain patterns can be similar amongst various experiences, but most trips tent to be distinct from one another. Therefore, each trip is unique from and similar to the previous trip in its own way.
             





References
FNP, K. D. (2017, March 24). DMT: Side effects, facts, and health risks. Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306889.php
Kelley, A.E. (2004). Memory and addiction: Shared neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms. Neuron 44, this issue, 161–179.

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