DMT stands for Dimethyltryptamine, which is the active ingredient in Ayahuasca, a plant based mixture that causes hallucinations. Ayahuasca is commonly used in shamanic rituals in the Amazon. According to drug researchers, DMT is growing in popularity and can also be smoked by itself.
According to the Global Drug Survey, DMT has a larger proportion of new users as compared to other drugs like LSD, Ketamine and magic mushrooms. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health has found that the number of people in the United States who have sampled DMT in some form, has gone up every year since 2006, from an estimated 688,000 to nearly half a million in 2012. The main users are young, male and still in school. In the United States, DMT is a Schedule 1 controlled substance and illegal for recreational use.
Interest in DMT
There has been increased interest in DMT ever since the release of the film ‘Enter the Void’ in 2009, and the documentary ‘DMT: The Spirit Molecule’ in 2010. These releases were followed by an article in the popular youth magazine ‘Vice’, which featured young people who had just smoked DMT. These releases in popular media raised awareness of DMT and sparked a lot of interest.
Another reason for DMT interest and growing use in the United States is ‘psychedelic tourism’. Around the year 2001, Americans started taking trips to places like Ecuador, Brazil and Peru to experience the hallucinatory effects of Ayahuasca. Which led to the separate use of DMT.
Side Effects of DMT
The main effect of using DMT is psychological. The individual using DMT experiences intense visual and auditory hallucinations, along with a feeling of euphoria and an altered sense of space and time.
Many individuals who have used DMT have described what they call life changing experiences such as alien encounters and visiting other worlds.
Some possible side effects of using DMT are:
- Increased heart rate
- Higher blood pressure
- Tightness or pain in the chest
- Agitation
- Dilated pupils
- Rapid eye movements
- Feeling dizzy
- Vomiting or nausea if ingested orally
The intensity of the DMT experience depends on the individual user. It can be either extremely exciting or overwhelmingly frightening. The mental side effects of using DMT can linger for days or even weeks after taking the drug.
Health Risks of DMT
There is limited research on DMT, but so far it is not known to cause physical dependence or addiction. Individuals using it frequently may develop psychological cravings for the drug, but it doesn’t seem to induce tolerance.
However, DMT could have serious, adverse consequences for those individuals who have pre existing psychological issues or mental illnesses like schizophrenia.
Are you interested in learning more about the dangers and risks of DMT? Contact The Villa with your questions and we will help you.