Rehab is often needed when people are battling this issue, but a lot of people do not realize that. Instead, they may try to quit using on their own or continue to use because they do not see a need for recovery. There are also those who feel hopeless and stuck in their substance abuse behaviors.
DMT has an allure to it that draws people in. Because it is a hallucinogen, its psychedelic properties are quite well known about drug abusers. People who use it often do so out of curiosity, and they do not realize how easy it is to get addicted to it. More people need to know the truth, which is that this is a dangerous drug.
Our goal with this page is to help people understand the risks associated with DMT abuse and addiction. But we also want people to be more aware of their options for treatment if they are addicted to it.
Street names are slang terms used to refer to illicit substances which not only help keep conversations about them seemingly innocuous, they also can be just a way to refer to such drugs in shorthand.
And with multi-syllabic drugs like Dimethyltryptamine, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that there are a number of nicknames out there that are significantly easier to pronounce.
And while it’s highly unlikely that you’ll run into someone offering you Desoxybufotenine at a party, you can never be too sure.
DMT, like other hallucinogens, has a long history of use in ancient cultures around the world. In fact, some sources trace its lineage all the way back to an eighth century burial site discovered in northern Chile.
Natives of Columbia and the surrounding areas created a variety of DMT-containing drinks throughout the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries in order to produce intoxicating and powerful psychoactive experiences as well.
These drinks were typically used in sacred rituals that allowed the peoples to interact with what they believed was the spirit world and achieve a heightened state of reality.
While Dimethyltryptamine use has been isolated for the large part of its history to these native tribes, the drug has experienced a significant rise in popularity due to modern documentaries and books written on this powerful psychoactive substance.
DMT, currently a Schedule I drug in the United States, typically comes in the form of a white powder. When extracted naturally, it’s most often taken orally as an herbal tea. When in its synthetic form, it can be snorted, smoked, or injected.
By its very nature, Dimethyltryptamine is a relatively fragile molecule and tends to break down quite quickly. In fact, when the drug is smoked or injected it can start producing hallucinogenic effects in less than 5 minutes.
What’s more, the high will generally only last about an hour, a characteristic that earned DMT the nickname “businessman’s trip” (for people who don’t want to spend multiple hours feeling its effects).
Dimethyltryptamine is also naturally inactivated by an enzyme in the stomach called monoamine oxidase. As such, taking DMT orally requires the addition of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (also known as an MAOI).
In ayahuasca, one of the earliest known DMT teas, the harmaline is a natural MAOI and thus helps the body absorb the Dimethyltryptamine.
Dimethyltryptamine has experienced a significant rise in popularity lately. In fact, the number of U.S. citizens that have used DMT has grown year over year since 2006. In 2012 alone over 1 million people reported using this potent hallucinogen.
Part of this surge in Dimethyltryptamine use can be linked back to the publishing of Rick Strassman’s 2002 book on the compound, DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor’s Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences.
This book was one of the first to capture the public’s attention about what this foreign substance was and actually became so popular that it was later turned into a documentary in 2010 by filmmaker Mitch Schultz. This film, which even featured appearances by Joe Rogan, was viewed by millions.
As more people became aware of DMT and were willing to try it, especially within the party scene, Dimethyltryptamine gained a bit of cult following and its abuse spread even further.
DMT is not a drug that often makes headlines in Idaho. But it is one that comes up every now and then. The following news stories make it clear that this drug is not forgotten in our state.
A business owner in Hailey, Idaho was sentenced to 60 days in jail, community service and a $4,000 fine because of DMT. The police stated that he had a courier service pick up the package – which contained the drug – from an employee. She was only nineteen years old.
The man pled guilty and his sentence also included $100 in restitution and two years of probation. Police officers alleged that he had mailed the package to himself at the local airport. It was supposed to be held there for him, but it was flagged as suspicious.
Because of the amount in the package, law enforcement wondered about his intent to distribute DMT. He admitted to only using the drug a few times a year, so it is possible.
One man was arrested after receiving a package that contained LSD. After further investigation, it was discovered that he was manufacturing, possessing and selling DMT too.
A search was conducted at the man’s home, and authorities discovered what they called a clandestine drug laboratory. They believed that he was using the kitchen lab to extract DMT.
While this particular story is not local to Idaho, please do not be deceived. DMT is prevalent in our state, although it may be flying under the radar currently. Many drug dealers sell multiple types of drugs, and this one has grown in popularity in recent years. It is certainly readily available to be purchased on the street.
Proponents for the use of DMT often point to the fact that the chemical is actually naturally occurring in the human body, most notably during times of high stress and right before death.
As this drug becomes more and more common in the modern world, independent scientists are also finding that Dimethyltryptamine may actually be helpful in treating substance addictions as well.
This isn’t the first time a hallucinogen has been used to combat substance use disorders. Ibogaine, for example, has also recently been used to treat heroin withdrawal at certain designated facilities.
But as with ibogaine, using DMT to treat substance use disorders can actually be quite dangerous when not performed in a controlled setting. Spikes in blood pressure, vomiting, and coma are all possible at certain doses of this drug.
And while there may in fact be some benefits associated with its use, far more study still needs to be done before it, and other psychedelics, can be safely used in clinical treatment.
Many insurance companies will cover 100% of the cost of outpatient treatment. Call today and find out if your plan qualifies. We can also help with financing. [DirectNumber]
Like many other hallucinogenic experiences, a dimethyltryptamine trip is not going to be the same for everyone.
For some it could mean an intensely euphoric experience. For others, it can be downright hellish. It depends on the interplay of factors like dosage, method of ingestion, environment, attitude, and more.
As Mitch Schultz, director of the hit documentary DMT: The Spirit Molecule, said as he described a positive DMT experience in an interview with Huffington Post:
People have a sense of motion a lot of times, moving through a portal, having information coming by or through them very quickly. A lot of fractals and geometric patterns, entities that can be described from aliens to angels, and also just huge cathartic releases of emotions and things that have been buried for years.
But also like other hallucinogenic experiences, abusing DMT can carry with it the possibility of a bad trip as well. Many experienced users point to using too much at once or going into the high with a bad attitude as the main causes for such an experience.
but due to the visuals overlaying reality, he wasn't my friend, he was a skeleton with pieces of decomposing flesh still hanging on and the most menacing, sharp-toothed grin I have ever seen. There was another presence in the form of anthropomorphized black mist… The skeleton came over and pinned me down. I have no idea what they were doing to me… It was loud, frantic, oppressing, exhausting, and felt pure evil...and I thought I was stuck there forever. It just kept going and going, getting worse with each second. Time was going so slow that it felt like days.
- BlueLight user zenmasterjack
It seems clear, then, that making the choice to use DMT is not something that should be taken lightly. The experiences it carries with it can end up being absolutely traumatizing.
Just because it isn’t necessarily “addictive” doesn’t mean there aren’t some serious short-term and long-term consequences associated with DMT abuse. In fact, some of the immediate side effects of abusing DMT can be quite dangerous in and of themselves.
Beyond these immediate effects is also the ever-looming threat with most hallucinogens that the affected individual may act uncontrollably and irrationally, putting themselves and others in danger. This risk is especially compounded if they are in high-risk situations such as driving a vehicle.
Significantly more study needs to be done on the long-term effects of DMT but also similar to other hallucinogens, Dimethyltryptamine also carries the risk of “flashbacks.” These episodes, characterized by a sudden onset of hallucinatory sensations, can happen without warning and long after taking the drug.
And if you experience such a flashback during a physically risky event, you may not be able to control your body sufficiently enough to avoid physical danger.
DMT, like other hallucinogens, is unique in the drug world in that it does not produce a physical dependency in abusers.
It is true that the body is capable of building up a tolerance to the drug and, in fact, such a tolerance grows quite quickly. But if that tolerance is not overcome or met, the body still will not normally go through withdrawals.
A few items of note though: as with nearly anything, whether it be an experience, a person, or a drug, DMT can develop a psychological dependence if it’s abused too often.
Ceasing your abuse of Dimethyltryptamine if you’re psychologically dependent on it then can cause mental withdrawal symptoms such as:
And while DMT may not carry with it the physically unbearable withdrawal symptoms like some other drugs, the psychological symptoms themselves can make dropping the drug permanently much more difficult than you might expect.
Another aspect of abusing and addiction to DMT that many people don’t discuss is the potential danger of taking unregulated amounts of MAOIs, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Most commonly used as antidepressants, MAOIs are necessary when taking DMT orally in that they allow the drug to actually be absorbed into the system. Without it, DMT will have little to no effect.
The danger comes from using these substances without the knowledgeable guidance of a medical professional. Besides the threat of developing a separate addiction entirely is a wide range of other physical side effects that come from abusing these prescription medications.
Given these potential side effects, some of which may be especially dangerous, it’s crucial to your health that you only take MAOIs according to your doctor’s prescription. Mixing it with DMT may lead to a variety of unforeseen consequences and put you in even more danger as a result.
One of the first questions people ask when it comes to this drug is “How addictive is DMT?” And the truth is, when you look at only the physical side of things, DMT’s addiction potential is virtually zero.
Like many other hallucinogens, there is little to no risk of becoming physically dependent on Dimethyltryptamine. But DMT addiction isn’t just about physical dependency – it’s also about the psychological aspects of regular DMT abuse.
In fact, the psychological aspects of addiction are some of the main contributors to why drugs are so addictive in the first place.
Sure, the cravings and withdrawal symptoms can be unbearable, but it’s the mental longing for these substances that more often than not fuels an addiction sufferer’s eventual relapse.
Determining whether you are actually psychologically addicted to DMT is one of the first steps in recovery. In fact, simply admitting that you have a problem in the first place can be one of the most difficult parts of the entire recovery process.
One of the best ways of quickly determining if you may be addicted to Dimethyltryptamine is by taking a short and effective online addiction quiz.
Anyone looking for a more in-depth analysis can also take the self-guided assessment included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as well.
Once a person has gotten addicted to DMT – which can happen quickly for regular users – they need treatment to stop. A lot of people with this addiction do not get help because they do not know what to expect during rehab. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify that.
DMT is a drug that can lead to mental withdrawal symptoms, as we mentioned earlier. But most people will be able to get through them without needing to go through detox. Of course, this can vary based on a person’s individual needs.
Most people will find that they are recommended to start drug rehab right away. Both inpatient and outpatient facilities treat DMT addictions. Either one can be an excellent choice for someone who is ready to recover and get their life back on track.
Ashwood Recovery offers one of the most celebrated outpatient treatment centers in Idaho. We know that our clients need a personalized approach to addiction recovery. When they come to us for help, that is exactly what they get. Every client gets their own treatment plan, which has been tailored according to their needs.
We offer three levels of care at Ashwood Recovery. Many of our clients start with our partial hospitalization program and then transition into our intensive outpatient program. After that, they are ready for a more traditional outpatient rehab setting, which we also offer.
We have a location to make getting treatment as convenient as possible. We are located in Boise.
Health insurance companies are required by law to provide addiction treatment benefits for their customers. Here at Ashwood Recovery, we have made it a priority to partner with as many insurance companies as possible. This allows us to keep any out-of-pocket costs low for our clients.
We are in-network with Blue Cross of Idaho, Aetna, United Behavioral Health Care Rehab and many other insurance companies.
At Ashwood Recovery, we understand the dangers of DMT abuse and addiction. We also know how to treat clients who come to us with this substance abuse problem. We are here to provide support to anyone who comes to us for recovery help.
Please know that you are not alone if you are addicted to DMT. Help is available to you, and our staff members are prepared to assist you in reaching your goal of getting clean.
Do you have additional questions about DMT addiction and abuse? Are you curious about starting treatment? Please contact us today.
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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