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The epidemiology of 5-methoxy- N, N -dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) use: Benefits, consequences, patterns of use, subjective effects, and reasons for consumption
Open accessAbstract
Background/aim: 5-Methoxy- N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychoactive compound found in several plants and in high concentrations in Bufo alvarius toad venom. Synthetic, toad, and plant-sourced 5-MeO-DMT are used for spiritual and recreational purposes and may have psychotherapeutic effects. However, the use of 5-MeO-DMT is not well understood. Therefore, we examined patterns of use, motivations for consumption, subjective effects, and potential benefits and consequences associated with 5-MeO-DMT use. Methods: Using internet-based advertisements, 515 respondents ( M age =35.4. SD=11.7; male=79%; White/Caucasian=86%; United States resident=42%) completed a web-based survey. Results: Most respondents consumed 5-MeO-DMT infrequently (<once/year), for spiritual exploration, and had used less than four times in their lifetime. The majority (average of 90%) reported moderate-to-strong mystical-type experiences ( M intensity =3.64, SD=1.11; range 0–5; e.g., ineffability, timelessness, awe/amazement, experience of pure being/awareness), and relatively fewer (average of 37%) experienced very slight challenging experiences ( M intensity =0.95, SD=0.91; range 0–5; e.g., anxiousness, fear). Less than half (39%) reported repeated consumption during the same session, and very few reported drug craving/desire (8%), or legal (1%), medical (1%), or psychiatric (1%) problems related to use. Furthermore, of those who reported being diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, the majority reported improvements in symptoms following 5-MeO-DMT use, including improvements related to post-traumatic stress disorder (79%), depression (77%), anxiety (69%), and alcoholism (66%) or drug use disorder (60%). Conclusion: Findings suggest that 5-MeO-DMT is used infrequently, predominantly for spiritual exploration, has low potential for addiction, and might have psychotherapeutic effects. Future research should examine the safety and pharmacokinetics of 5-MeO-DMT administration in humans using rigorous experimental designs.
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“it appears that 5-MeO-DMT has an acceptable physiological safety profile in naturalistic settings (Davis et al. 2018; Davis et al. 2019)”
From Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment (2020) · cites this paper as Davis et al. 2018
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“people who reported having had a psychiatric condition described that following the use of 5-MeO-DMT, they experienced improvement in depression (77%), anxiety (69%), post-traumatic stress disorder (79%), and substance use disorders (60%) (Davis et al. 2018).”
From Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment (2020) · cites this paper as Davis et al. 2018
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“At the present time, 5-MeO-DMT has become popular in naturalistic settings as a means for spiritual exploration, recreation, or as a way to increase affect or relieve problems associated with mental health (Davis et al. 2018).”
From Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment (2020) · cites this paper as Davis et al. 2018
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“as well as a low addiction liability (Davis et al. 2018)”
From Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment (2020) · cites this paper as Davis et al. 2018
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“We included the Challenging Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ), a 26-item self-report measure developed to assess the intensity of challenging experiences one might have after taking a hallucinogen (Barrett et al., 2016).”
Influential
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness
Millière, R., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Trautwein, F.-M., & Berkovich-Ohana, A. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475 · Cited by 390
Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., & Griffiths, R. R. (2020) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2019.11.004 · Cited by 375
Self-citationAndersen, K. A. A., Carhart‐Harris, R., Nutt, D. J., & Erritzoe, D. (2021) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.13249 · Cited by 347
Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use
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Self-citationLong-term effects of psychedelic drugs: A systematic review
Aday, J. S., Mitzkovitz, C. M., Bloesch, E. K., Davoli, C. C., & Davis, A. K. (2020) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.017 · Cited by 279
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Davis, A. K., Barsuglia, J. P., Lancelotta, R., Grant, R. M., & Renn, E.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Crossroads Treatment Center, Rosarito, Mexico
- University of Wyoming (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Corresponding author
- Davis, Alan K
- Venue
- Journal of Psychopharmacology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-04-30
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 779-792
- ISSN
- 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7285
- PMC
- PMC6248886
- OpenAlex
- W2802902398
- Cited by
- 140
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 12.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA007747)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA07209)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
- Keywords
- 5-MeO-DMT, tryptamine, psychedelic drug use, usage patterns, subjective effects, spiritual journey, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, alcoholism, drug craving, addiction potential
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Hallucinogens, Humans, Male, Methoxydimethyltryptamines, Middle Aged, Motivation, Psychotropic Drugs, Surveys and Questionnaires, Substance-Related Disorders, Internet, Young Adult
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