About
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a Substance I hallucinogen derived from the alkaloid tryptamine. In small doses, the drug has a calming effect on the body before the peak sensation of an intense trip that defines its potency. A trip (also known as a psychedelic experience) is a state of temporary consciousness shift associated with experiencing ‘transcendence’ brought by drugs.
The drug is found in plants and animals and its symptoms are mostly intense on the first intake. A person’s reaction to DMT reaches a maximum peak of 15 to 20 minutes and can stay inside the body for at least 3 to 24 hours.
In some occasions, the drug is used for ritualistic healing. Unfortunately, there has been limited research on DMT and its other effects. It can pose threats to a person’s mental and psychological capabilities and can be unpredictable in filtering the imagination due to its potency. Users with heart ailment are asked fervently to discontinue the drug.
There are two common ways of taking DMT: one of it can be done through smoking an herbal mixture. After drinking, the drug gives a peak subjective experience of 2 minutes and a complete relief of 15 to 20 minutes. Another way of intake is by drinking ayahuasca brew; its effects can kick in one hour after it is taken and can last a number of hours after.
In its purest form, Dimethyltryptamine appears as a crystalline powder. Its consistency looks similar to a snowflake when placed under a microscope. It has a clear general appearance but it turns crystal once it is vaporized. Mixed DMT variations have a waxy texture when placed in water. They appear with general colors of yellow and brown that suggest that the drug was mixed with plant fat. Other hues of purple, pink and amber red are also not purified and can hint on the presence of lye. The presence of these colorations can pose harmful effects to the body if ingested and damage to the lungs.
Dimethyltryptamine is not the only name referring to DMT. Its other scientific names are 3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-indole, Desoxybufotenine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Colloquial terms would include names like Ayahuasca, Business trip, Dimitri, Fantasia, Forty-Five-Minute-Psychosis, and Nigerine.
Effects
As all other narcotics, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine can be illegal in most countries because of its negative effects and symptoms in the body. Since DMT is a hallucinogenic, the frequent use of this drug puts the user into a gradual state of psychedelic high depending on how much dosage the person takes in one sitting. Hallucinogenic effects start once the dosage reaches about 0.2 mg per kg. Trip effects arrive in the system in different time frames depending on the method of ingestion.
Because of its Substance I classification by the Substances Controlled Act, there is difficulty in gathering information and research regarding the narcotic. Its psychedelic potency has made it a drug to be avoided by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). However, DMT has no record of being addictive but like any other drug, higher doses of intake generate more negative effects.
The way the body reacts to N,N-dimethyltryptamine is similar to how it does with LSD. The main effects of this drug are psychological in nature and users experience having kaleidoscopic displays of abstract images in technicolor. Auditory and touch hallucinations such as altering temperatures of heat and cold are also common addictive perceptions.
When DMT enters the system, it often targets the serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for good moods; it also impacts the neocortex where memory, reasoning and decision-making are processed. The drug triggers emotions and also affects the way we think. Because of this, it changes the way our emotional memories work and the way we make decisions. As the substance is absorbed, the user then encounters transient states of anxiety and euphoria either simultaneously or at the same time.
Heightened states of experiences when taking DMT become more intense as the dose and the frequency of taking the drug increase. The effects, as users describe, are reported to be unreal and out of body–with interactions to other entities and aliens–that can be in the form of animals and objects.
DMT users hardly crave for the drug but the existence of the symptoms means that the substance has been abused for some time and there has now been some mental distortion on the part of the patient. Life-threatening symptoms include seizures, respiratory arrest, coma, persisting psychosis that includes disordered moods and thoughts, paranoia, visual disruptions, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), symptoms similar to brain tumors and cerebrovascular trauma.
Biological changes caused by DMT suggest a change in the hormones of adrenocorticotropic hormone, prolactin and beta-endorphin. These are followed by other physical changes such as dilated pupils, increased or irregular heart rate, rapid eye movement, racing blood pressure, chest pain or tightness in the chest region, agitation, dizziness or nausea, high fever and anxiety.
Addiction and Treatment
For those who have become dependent on DMT, there are several ways of treating and beating this chronic, potent drug use. These involve family and individual counseling, cognitive/dialectical behavioral therapy and recovery lifestyle.
Individual and family counseling are one-on-one discussions that are conducted with the patient and his/her peers and family. In the sessions, the involved parties and the medical professional/s identify the factors that make up the addiction.
When dealing with the drug’s psychological symptoms, cognitive or dialectical behavioral therapy can be a chosen option as one’s treatment program. Cognition refers to the modification of thoughts and behavior. Because DMT can increase mood swings and depressive behavior, this kind of therapy can encourage a positive way of thinking. Assessing dialectical behavior encourages the patient to focus on what they want in life and to reflect on difficult times relating to inner fears and doubts that could lead to a transformation in self-identity.
Having a healthy lifestyle can help build a recovering user’s self-assurance while applying the lessons that they have learned in therapy sessions to forge a new life. This includes a lifestyle change of eating well and exercising regularly.
