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

[dreamer042]

Winstock, A., Kaar, S., & Borschmann, R. (2013). Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Prevalence, user characteristics and abuse liability in a large global sample. Journal Of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England),

 

[downwardsfromzero]

Some edited highlights:

[...]its agonist action at 5-HT2a, common to other indoalkylamines [sic] and phenylaklyalmines [sic], is thought to be primarily responsible for its key psychedelic effects[...]

[...]the current study sought to assess the prevalence and appeal of a naturally occurring drug with a long history of use, namely DMT. To better understand its abuse profile, especially in light of the recent adoption of the smoking route[emphasis added], we sought to compare its effect and risk profile[...]

Despite its rapid onset of action (attributable to the smoking route), DMT was rated as having the lowest level of negative effects when high, perhaps due to its short duration of action. When compared with the recently popular pharmaceutical psychedelic ketamine, DMT appears to be more desirable across all effect parameters.
From a drug user’s perspective, our data demonstrate that 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. This positive effect profile may in part be due to its short duration of action permitting effective dose titration. Fortunately this short duration of action – which can be associated with a higher risk for dependence – did not appear to translate into a higher urge to use more DMT when using.
[...]As with other psychedelics, a relatively mild comedown was reported following the use of DMT, negating the motivation incentive for use to relieve withdrawal. Our findings are consistent with previous research which suggests that hallucinogenic substances rarely lead to a strong urge to use more (Morgenstern et al., 1994) and have low abuse potential (Fábregas et al., 2010; Gable, 2007).

The overall findings suggest DMT has a reasonable safety profile, with few users reporting significant negative effects when high or following an episode of use.

Conclusions

When compared with the common psychedelic drugs of use, the modern subjective report of DMT use from a sample of 472 new users was described as a short, intense and pleasurable experience with negligible negative effects. In this population, recruited via an online drug survey advertised in mainstream and dance music-related media, the lifetime prevalence of DMT use was 9%, making it an uncommon but important substance of global significance. Supporting findings from previous studies, DMT was typically smoked and, although it seems to have positive attributes, its potential for abuse appears to be low. Like other psychedelic substances, DMT’s profound effects on consciousness may limit its appeal to the wider population and likely prevent habitual use, except in those who use it in within a religious context.

Conflict of interest
Adam R Winstock is the founder and director of the Global Drug Survey Ltd.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Also compares relative intensity and time to peak experience with mushrooms, ketamine and LSD. Fairly balanced overall but still strays into terminology like "abuse", "risk for dependence". Final line of the conclusion is quite interesting...?

 

[obliguhl]

1. Scientific studies do not have to be balanced, but as close to the truth as possible
2. Teminology such as "Abuse" and "Dependency" are highly relevant in any drug context, because a ton of drugs can be abused and you can become dependent on them.


I would say that this study presents a rather favourable result and it's great that these studies are getting done to slow done media initiated witchhunts and hopefully prevent legislative bodies running rampage.

The last sentence shows that slowly but surely, people start to understand that these substances are being used outside an escapist context. It gives me hope that the government will stop to regulate ones diet in the future.

 

[Guyomech]

Interesting report, and encouragingly low in terms of demo nixing language. The point that the experience can be very profound and that this generally does not encourage escapist use- nice to see that in print.

I had read once somewhere (could have been here) that in a survey, of all people who tried DMT, roughly 1 in 10 said they were excited to try it again. That more or less matches that 9% finding.

I would also point out that most people I know who remain psychedelic users across the decades- well, these are not losers living in the gutter but tend to be thoughtful, intelligent people on a solid life path- not the usual profile of a drug "abuser". But it looks like the stigma is softening up a little, finally.