The epidemiology of 5-methoxy- N, N -dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) use: Benefits, consequences, patterns of use, subjective effects, and reasons for consumption

Summary & key facts

Researchers asked about 515 people who had used 5-MeO-DMT, a powerful psychedelic found in some plants and toad venom. Most users tried it only rarely and said they used it for spiritual reasons. Very few people reported craving it or having legal, medical, or psychiatric problems from using it. Many people who already had diagnosed mental health problems said their symptoms improved after using it, but this was an online self-report study with mostly white men, so we can’t say 5-MeO-DMT is safe or a proven treatment without better, controlled research.

Key facts:

• About 515 people completed an online survey about their 5-MeO-DMT use.
• Most respondents used 5-MeO-DMT only infrequently and mainly for spiritual exploration.
• About four out of five respondents were men, and most identified as white.
• Only about 8% reported craving or desire for the drug.
• Very few people reported legal problems, medical problems, or psychiatric problems from use — each was about 1%.
• Under 40% reported taking 5-MeO-DMT more than once during the same session.
• Challenging or frightening experiences were uncommon and usually mild.
• Among people who said they had been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, a majority reported symptom improvements after use: about 8 out of 10 reported improvement in PTSD, about 3 out of 4 in depression, about 7 out of 10 in anxiety, about two thirds in alcoholism, and about 60% in drug use disorder.
• The study used self-reports from people who chose to take the survey and mostly white men, so the results may not represent everyone and do not prove that the drug is safe or effective.

Abstract

Background/aim: 5-Methoxy- N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychoactive compound found in several plants and in high concentrations in Bufo alvarius toad venom. Synthetic, toad, and plant-sourced 5-MeO-DMT are used for spiritual and recreational purposes and may have psychotherapeutic effects. However, the use of 5-MeO-DMT is not well understood. Therefore, we examined patterns of use, motivations for consumption, subjective effects, and potential benefits and consequences associated with 5-MeO-DMT use. Methods: Using internet-based advertisements, 515 respondents ( M age =35.4. SD=11.7; male=79%; White/Caucasian=86%; United States resident=42%) completed a web-based survey. Results: Most respondents consumed 5-MeO-DMT infrequently ( intensity =3.64, SD=1.11; range 0–5; e.g., ineffability, timelessness, awe/amazement, experience of pure being/awareness), and relatively fewer (average of 37%) experienced very slight challenging experiences ( M intensity =0.95, SD=0.91; range 0–5; e.g., anxiousness, fear). Less than half (39%) reported repeated consumption during the same session, and very few reported drug craving/desire (8%), or legal (1%), medical (1%), or psychiatric (1%) problems related to use. Furthermore, of those who reported being diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, the majority reported improvements in symptoms following 5-MeO-DMT use, including improvements related to post-traumatic stress disorder (79%), depression (77%), anxiety (69%), and alcoholism (66%) or drug use disorder (60%). Conclusion: Findings suggest that 5-MeO-DMT is used infrequently, predominantly for spiritual exploration, has low potential for addiction, and might have psychotherapeutic effects. Future research should examine the safety and pharmacokinetics of 5-MeO-DMT administration in humans using rigorous experimental designs.

Topics

Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Addiction Anxiety Clinical psychology Consumption (sociology) Craving Depression (economics) Economics Macroeconomics Medicine Psychiatry Psychology Social science Sociology

Substances

Other

Conditions & symptoms

Addiction Anxiety Addiction or harmful habbits