Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): prevalence, user characteristics and abuse liability in a large global sample.

Area of Science:

• Psychopharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Drug Use Epidemiology

Background:

• N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a potent hallucinogen acting on the serotonergic system.
• Understanding its prevalence and user characteristics is crucial for public health.
• The subjective effects and abuse potential require thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) use.
• To characterize users of DMT.
• To analyze the subjective effect profile of DMT and compare it to other psychedelics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Global Drug Survey (2012) with 22,289 responses.
• Calculated lifetime and past-year prevalence of DMT use.
• Analyzed subjective effects of DMT in new users and compared with psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine.

Main Results:

• Lifetime prevalence of DMT use was 8.9%; past-year prevalence was 5.0%.
• DMT was typically smoked, producing a rapid, intense, short-lived psychedelic experience.
• DMT had a higher proportion of new users (24%) compared to other substances, with few negative effects and a low urge to re-use.

Conclusions:

• DMT exhibits a desirable effect profile with a high abuse liability potentially offset by low re-use potential.
• The increasing popularity of DMT warrants further research into its long-term effects and public health implications.
• DMT's unique pharmacological profile warrants continued scientific exploration.