N, N-Dimethyltryptamine / DMT Drug Facts

This document, published by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in December 2022, provides a comprehensive overview of N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).

Introduction

N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is considered the prototypical indolethylamine hallucinogen.

• Historical Context: Human experience with DMT likely spans several hundred years due to its use in religious practices and rituals.
• Natural Occurrence: It occurs naturally in many plant species and is a component in South American snuffs and brewed concoctions like Ayahuasca.
• Synthetic Production: DMT can also be produced synthetically. It was first synthesized in 1931 by British chemist Richard Manske.
• Legal History: It gained popularity as a drug of abuse in the 1960s and was placed under federal control as a Schedule I substance in 1971 following the passage of the Controlled Substances Act.

Chemistry

DMT shares the tryptamine core structure common to other indolethylamine hallucinogens.

• Chemical Structure: It is formed by substituting two methyl ($CH_3$) groups for the two hydrogen atoms ($H$) on the terminal nitrogen of the ethylamine side chain of tryptamine.

Pharmacology

• Administration: When used alone, DMT is typically snorted, smoked, or injected.
• Oral Bioavailability: Oral bioavailability is very poor unless combined with substances that inhibit its metabolism.
  • In Ayahuasca, harmala alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmaline) inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase.
  • This inhibition allows DMT to remain intact long enough to be absorbed and affect brain function.
• Dosage: In clinical studies, intravenous doses between $0.2$ and $0.4$ $mg/kg$ were found to be fully hallucinogenic.
• Duration: The onset of effects is very rapid, typically resolving within 30 to 45 minutes.

Effects of Use

Psychological Effects

• Intense visual hallucinations.
• Depersonalization and auditory distortions.
• Altered sense of time and body image.

Physiological Effects

• Hypertension and increased heart rate.
• Agitation, seizures, and dilated pupils.
• Nystagmus (involuntary, rapid rhythmic eye movement).
• Dizziness and ataxia (muscular incoordination).
• Severe outcomes such as coma and respiratory arrest have been associated with DMT exposure according to AAPCC data.

Licit and Illicit Uses

• Licit Uses: DMT has no approved medical use in the U.S.. Researchers may use it only under a Schedule I research registration approved by both the DEA and the FDA.
• Illicit Uses: It is sought for its intense psychoactive effects and short duration of action, which appeals to those wanting a psychedelic experience without the extended duration of drugs like LSD. It is commonly smoked or consumed in oral brews.

Distribution and Control Status

• Illicit Distribution: DMT is extracted from plant materials or produced in clandestine labs. Internet sales are a significant source of supply in the U.S..
• Reported Identifications: According to the NFLIS-Drug database, forensic laboratory reports of DMT have remained stable:
  • 2018: 726 reports
  • 2019: 925 reports
  • 2020: 892 reports
  • 2021: 1,033 reports
• Control Status: DMT remains a Schedule I controlled substance.

Contact Information: Comments or requests for additional information can be directed to the Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section via Fax (571-362-4250), Telephone (571-362-3249), or Email (DPE@dea.gov).