Trends in DMT and other tryptamine use among young adults in the United States

Abstract

Background and Objectives The popularity of tryptamines such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) appears to be increasing in the United States (US), but epidemiologic literature on prevalence of use is scant. This paper aims to determine trends in prevalence and correlates of past-year tryptamine use among a nationally representative sample of young adults in the US. Methods Participants in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health survey were queried about past-year use of tryptamines—specifically DMT, α-methyltryptamine (AMT), and 5-MeO-DIPT (“Foxy”). Data were examined from young adults (ages 18–25), years 2007–2014 (N = 144,787). Linear trends in prevalence of past-year tryptamine use were examined in the full sample and stratified by specific demographic and drug use characteristics. Results Tryptamine use is rare, but increased from .2% in 2007/08 to .7% in 2013/14, a 273% relative increase (p < .001). While prevalence increased among all demographic groups, prevalence was substantially higher among individuals who use other drugs. In particular, between 2007/08 and 2013/14, prevalence of tryptamine use increased among past-year ecstasy users (from 2.1% to 10.0%) and LSD users (from 7.0% to 15.5%) (ps < .01). Prevalence of tryptamine use tended to be higher among lifetime and past-year users of psychedelic drugs compared to users of non-psychedelic drugs. Conclusion While tryptamine use is not prevalent in the general young adult population, prevalence is increasing. Users of various other drugs—particularly drugs with psychedelic effects—report higher prevalence of tryptamine use. Scientific Significance Users of other drugs can be targeted when disseminating information about tryptamines to ensure user safety. (Am J Addict 2018;27:578–585)

Survey of entity encounter experiences occasioned by inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine: Phenomenology, interpretation, and enduring effects

“…The demographics of respondents to both surveys are very similar being predominately male (~80%), White (~85%), residing in the USA (64%), and having a bachelor's college degree or higher (~35%). These demographics are also consistent with other studies of people who use DMT (Cakic et al, 2010;Palamar and Le, 2018;Winstock et al, 2014). There were numerous other similarities between the DMT God/ultimate reality encounter survey and the present entity encounter survey, including that a minority of respondents had the intention to have an encounter experience, most reported that the encounter was initiated by the entity, the large majority (⩾89%) of respondents reported an emotional response to the experience, the predominant senses involved in the interaction were extrasensory and visual (>80%), about 80% reported communication (a two-way exchange of information) with that which was encountered, most (⩾65%) rated the experience as more real than everyday normal consciousness, most (⩾75%) rated the qualities attributed to that which was encountered (e.g.…”

“…Limitations to this study are similar to those of any retrospective Internet-based survey and include retrospective recall and social desirability biases, the use of a cross-sectional assessment which makes causal interpretations impossible and lacks the ability to determine whether the sample is representative of the entire population of people who ingest DMT. Although evidence suggests that the demographic composition of the population of DMT users is comprised primarily of young adult, White men (Cakic et al, 2010; Palamar and Le, 2018; Winstock et al, 2014), it is possible that there are people who identify with other backgrounds who also have had entity encounters after ingesting DMT but were not willing or able to participate in this study. Also, because respondents were excluded who reported using more than one substance before the entity encounter, using changa, or administering DMT via methods other than vaporizing or smoking, the findings may not represent the entire population of people who have such encounters after taking DMT.…”

“…dmt-nexus.me; erowid.org; Luke and Spowers, 2018), empirical research detailing prevalence, patterns of use, and other characteristics of such DMT use is scarce. Drug use data from a US nationally representative survey in 2013/2014 (Palamar and Le, 2018) indicated that DMT, 5-Methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT), and/or alpha-methyltryptamine use are rare (0.7%). Other survey data indicate that the desirable features of smoked DMT include meaningful, insightful or spiritual experiences, the short duration of action, and pleasurable feelings (Cakic et al, 2010; Winstock et al, 2014).…”

A qualitative descriptive analysis of effects of psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines

“…Pyschedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines have received little attention from researchers, in part, because use is not as prevalent as other more common drugs. For example, <1% of adults in the United States is estimated to have used tryptamines such as N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine (DMT), α‐methyltryptamine (AMT), or 5‐MeO‐DIPT (“Foxy”) in the past year (Palamar & Le, ). Psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines are also associated with far fewer poisonings and deaths and are confiscated ffar less frequently than more common phenethylamines (e.g., methamphetamine), cocaine, cannabis, opioids, and other drugs (Gummin et al, ; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, ).…”

Interpol review of controlled substances 2016–2019

“…Tryptamines (see also Mushrooms): 2016 square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry for determination of tryptamine [ 1181 ]; synthesis of synthesis of 3-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-4-hydroxy-4-arylthiazolidine-2-thione and 3-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-4-arylthiazole-2(3H)-thione [ 1182 ]; synthesis of functionalized 3-{1-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl) ethyl]-4,5,6,7-tetra-hydro-1H-indol-3-yl} indolin-2-ones [ 1183 ]; HPLC-DAD method for detecting terpenoid indole alkaloids in different parts and different developmental stages of Catharanthus roseus plants [ 1184 ]; Solid Surface-Room Temperature Phosphorescence (SS-RTP) for direct determination of the concentration of tryptamine in beers [ 1185 ]; RP-HPLC-DAD for determination of the biogenic amines tryptamine, putrescine, histamine, phenylethylamine, tyramine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine in red and white wines [ 1186 ]; 2017 analytical characterization of 17 DALTs using NMR, GC quadrupole and ion trap (EI/CI) MS, low and high mass accuracy MS/MS, photodiode array detection, and GC solid-state infrared analysis [ 1187 ]; LC-MS method for quantification of Tryptophan [ 1188 ]; characterization of omega-N-methyl-4-hydroxytrypt-amine (norpsilocin, 1) using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry [ 789 ]; detection of 5-fluoro-DALT (5-F-DALT), 7-methyl-DALT (7-Me-DALT), and 5,6-methylenedioxy-DALT (5,6-MD-DALT) using GC-MS, LC-MS/MS and LC-HR-MS/MS [ 1189 ]; GC-MS analysis of 25,296 samples of which 436 were tryptamines; from these 232 (53.21%) were non-regulated (the most delivered non-regulated tryptamine was 4-AcO-DMT) [ 1190 ]; SPE-LC-UV-DAD for determination of tryptamines Ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogenic beverage [ 552 ]; use of tryptamine as a reactive matrix for the analysis of non-polar carbonyl compounds by MALDI-MS [ 1191 ]; UPLC-TQ/MS method for direct determination of biogenic amines tryptamine, putrescine, histamine, phenylethylamine, tyramine, cadaverine, spermine, and spermidine in wine [ 1192 ]; 2018 detection of 5-MeO-2-Me-DALT, 5-MeO-2-Me-ALCHT, 5-MeO-2-Me-DIPT using GC-MS, LC-MSn and LC-HR-MS/MS [ 1193 ]; investigation and comparison of mass fragmentation of 20 phenethylamine/tryptamine standards by means of MALDI/TOFM, GC-EI/MS and LC-ESI/MS [ 877 ]; trends in use of tryptamines-specifically DMT, alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT), and 5-MeO-DIPT (“Foxy”) [ 1194 ];…”