Ruqayyah Snyder
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a very strong psychedelic substance that occurs naturally in many plants and animals, including humans. DMT is the psychoactive ingredient in the drug ayahuasca, which is used for religious purposes. In Australia, DMT is controlled under the Poisons Act 1964, and in 2011, the Australian government considered classifying plants containing DMT as controlled plants. However, this proposal was not pursued as it would have made the country's official floral emblem, Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle), illegal. Despite the legal status of DMT, it remains a subject of interest in the country, with studies examining its use and effects among Australian recreational users.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full form | Dimethyltryptamine |
| Other names | N,N-dimethyltryptamine, DMT |
| Type of drug | Psychedelic |
| Administration | Inhaled, injected, smoked |
| Effects | Increase in psychospiritual insight, complex and semantically rich visual hallucinations, frightening hallucinations, anxiety, confusion, fear, paranoia, 'flashbacks' |
| Legality in Australia | Controlled under Schedule 9 of the Poisons Act 1964 |
| Legality of plants containing DMT in Australia | Not controlled due to the presence of DMT in Australia's official flower |
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What You'll Learn
DMT is a strong psychedelic found in plants and animals
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a strong psychedelic substance that occurs naturally in many plants and animals, including humans. DMT is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, making it illegal to manufacture, buy, possess, or distribute. Despite its illegal status, it is used as a psychedelic drug and prepared by various cultures for ritual purposes as an entheogen.
DMT has been found in at least fifty plant species belonging to ten families, and in at least four animal species, including one gorgonian and three mammalian species. It is a white crystalline powder derived from certain plants found in Mexico, South America, and parts of Asia, such as Psychotria viridis. It is also present in cohoba, a hallucinogenic drug derived from the seeds of Piptadenia peregrina.
DMT-containing plants are commonly used in indigenous Amazonian shamanic practices, and it is usually one of the main active constituents of the drink ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive tea-like drink, and DMT is its first and main ingredient. Ayahuasca is sometimes brewed with plants that do not produce DMT, and it contains a range of compounds that may help limit side effects and reduce the overall toxicity of DMT.
DMT has a rapid onset, intense effects, and a relatively short duration of action. It can be inhaled, injected, or orally ingested, and its effects depend on the dose and mode of administration. When inhaled or injected, the effects last about five to fifteen minutes, and when orally ingested with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), the effects can last three hours or more.
In Australia, DMT is most commonly smoked, and the effects commence almost immediately and finish after around 30 minutes.
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DMT is the psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca
DMT, or N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, is a very strong psychedelic drug of the tryptamine family that occurs naturally in many plants and animals, including humans. It is used as a psychedelic drug and prepared by various cultures for ritual purposes as an entheogen.
In ayahuasca, a plant containing DMT is boiled together with a plant containing a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as harmaline, and the mixture is drunk. The MAOI preserves the psychoactivity of orally ingested DMT, which would otherwise be destroyed in the gut before it could be absorbed in the body. The traditional making of ayahuasca follows a ritual process that requires the user to pick the lower Chacruna leaf at sunrise, say a prayer, clean the vine meticulously, and pound it with wooden mallets.
A synthetic version of ayahuasca, known as pharmahuasca, is a combination of an appropriate MAOI and typically DMT. In this usage, the DMT is generally considered the main psychoactive active ingredient. Archaeological evidence of the use of psychoactive plants in northeastern Amazon dates back to 1500–2000 BCE.
In Australia, DMT is most commonly smoked, with effects commencing almost straight away and finishing after around 30 minutes. The active ingredient in ayahuasca (dimethyltryptamine) is prohibited in all states and territories, making it illegal to possess, use, make, sell, import or export ayahuasca in Australia.
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Smoking is the most common way to consume DMT in Australia
In Australia, 98.3% of recreational DMT users report smoking it, with a much smaller proportion (30.6%) reporting use of ayahuasca. DMT is usually smoked using a bong, pipe, or e-cigarette, or in a DMT-infused smoking blend called Changa. The effects of smoking DMT commence almost immediately and last for around 30 minutes. The rapid onset of effects when smoked, as well as the relatively short duration of the trip, led to DMT being known as the "businessman's trip" in the 1960s in the US.
DMT can also be injected or ingested orally, in which case the effects can last for several hours. The oral ingestion of ayahuasca is common in religious contexts and has been examined extensively, but recreational use of DMT is less understood. In Australia, the recreational use of DMT may be of particular interest due to the presence of DMT in several native species of Acacia and its association with the 'bush doof' music subculture.
The effects of DMT can be intense and may include visual and auditory illusions and hallucinations, dissolution of ego boundaries, and increased sensitivity to bodily sensations. The effects can be influenced by the user's mood and environment, and individual brain chemistry. It is important to be careful when taking any type of drug, as the use of psychedelics can have varied and sometimes negative effects, and mixing DMT with other drugs can be dangerous.
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DMT can worsen symptoms for those with mental health issues
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a very strong psychedelic substance that occurs naturally in many plants and animals, including humans. DMT is the psychoactive ingredient in the drug ayahuasca, which is used in indigenous Amazonian shamanic practices. It is also known as N,N-dimethyltryptamine and is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, meaning it is illegal to manufacture, buy, possess, or distribute.
In Australia, DMT was already controlled under existing laws, and between 2011 and 2012, the Australian federal government considered further changes to the Australian Criminal Code that would classify any plants containing DMT as "controlled plants".
DMT can be smoked, inhaled, or injected, and its effects depend on the dose and method of administration. The effects of DMT are intense and can be life-threatening, especially for those with pre-existing mental health issues. While some people find the experience transformative and life-affirming, it can be traumatic for others, leading to frightening or confronting hallucinations, and feelings of anxiety, confusion, fear, and paranoia.
For individuals with a history of mental health concerns or a current condition, DMT can worsen symptoms in some cases. Research suggests that DMT may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a condition caused by an excess of serotonin in the body, which is more likely in individuals taking antidepressants or other drugs that increase serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome can lead to life-threatening complications, including seizures, kidney or respiratory failure, or loss of muscle tissue.
Additionally, DMT may have adverse effects on individuals with pre-existing psychological problems or a mental illness, such as schizophrenia. The altered state of consciousness induced by DMT can be challenging for some individuals, and the drug's potential to dramatically alter one's perspective, consciousness, and sensory experiences can be disorienting and overwhelming.
While there is ongoing research into the potential therapeutic benefits of DMT-assisted therapy for treating mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, it is essential to approach DMT with caution, especially for those with a history of mental health concerns.
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Australia considered classifying plants containing DMT as controlled plants
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a very strong psychedelic substance found in a variety of plants and animals, including humans. It is used as a psychedelic drug and prepared by various cultures for ritual purposes as an entheogen. DMT has a rapid onset, intense effects, and a relatively short duration of action. It is often inhaled or injected, and its effects depend on the dose and the mode of administration.
In Australia, DMT is listed as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard (October 2015). Schedule 9 drugs are defined in the Poisons Act 1964 as "substances which may be abused or misused, and the manufacture, possession, sale or use of which should be prohibited by law except when required for medical or scientific research, or for analytical, teaching or training purposes with approval of the CEO."
Between 2011 and 2012, the Australian federal government considered changes to the Australian Criminal Code that would classify any plants containing any amount of DMT as "controlled plants". DMT itself was already controlled under current laws, and the proposed changes included similar blanket bans for other substances, such as a ban on all plants containing mescaline or ephedrine.
The proposal was not pursued due to the realisation that it would make the official Floral Emblem of Australia, Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle), illegal, which would have caused a political embarrassment. This decision also prevented the potential destruction of 20-30% of native vegetation in the country to comply with the law.
It is important to note that the use of any drug, including DMT, can have risks and negative effects. Mixing DMT with other drugs can have unpredictable consequences and increase the risk of harm. It is always advisable to do your research and be cautious when taking any type of drug.
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Frequently asked questions
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), also known as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (N,N-DMT), is a very strong psychedelic drug of the tryptamine family that occurs naturally in many plants and animals, including humans.
DMT is found in a variety of plants and animals. It is the psychoactive ingredient in the drug ayahuasca, which is used as a sacrament in the orally active preparation of ayahuasca.
DMT has a rapid onset, intense effects, and a relatively short duration of action. The effects of DMT depend on the dose and the mode of administration. When inhaled or injected, the effects last about five to fifteen minutes. Effects can last three hours or more when orally ingested.
The use of any drug can have risks. Psychedelics affect everyone differently, and the effects depend on a person's mood and environment. If someone takes a large amount, the negative effects of DMT are more likely. Mixing DMT with other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm.
DMT is controlled under Australian law. In 2011, the Australian federal government considered classifying any plants containing DMT as "controlled plants", but the proposal was not pursued as it would have made the official Floral Emblem of Australia, Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle), illegal.
