Substance abuse comes in many forms. You may be familiar with problems related to well-known substances such as alcohol and opioid painkillers. However, you may be less familiar with one of the many drugs classified as hallucinogens. One such drug is N, N-dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. The use of DMT is not widespread. However, exposure to this hallucinogen can profoundly alter your short-term mental state. Use of the drug also comes with risks for a range of common and uncommon side effects.
What Is DMT – Origins and Legal Status
DMT occurs naturally in the leaves and seeds of the South American tree species Piptadenia peregrina. It can also be found in other South American plant species. The use of the drug is traditional among certain indigenous Amazonian peoples. In this context, it’s best known as the active ingredient of a ceremonial drink called ayahuasca.
In the U.S., dimethyltryptamine is an illegal, Schedule I substance. Substances in this category have no accepted use as medical treatments. In addition, they come with a high potential for misuse or abuse. Other hallucinogens with a Schedule I designation include LSD and peyote.
DMT’s Hallucinogenic Effects
Dimethyltryptamine use typically triggers hallucinogenic effects on your thoughts and perceptions. Specific side effects you may experience include:
- Visual, sound-based, touch-based, or smell-based hallucinations
- A more intensified state of normal sensory perception
- Distorted or delusional thinking
- An altered sense of time
You may also experience synesthesia. This state occurs when your sensory perceptions appear to overlap with each other. For example, you may visually experience a sound or smell a color.
How Long Do the Drug’s Effects Last?
Other hallucinogens may have similar effects on you. However, DMT is distinguished by one key thing: the duration of your experience. Some hallucinogens can alter your thoughts and perceptions for eight or more hours at a time. In contrast, the average dose of dimethyltryptamine lasts for roughly half an hour to 45 minutes. Larger doses may continue to affect you for several hours. Some people use the drug specifically because of its shorter-term effects.
Potential Harms of Using Dimethyltryptamine
There is no safe dose of dimethyltryptamine. Use of the drug can potentially harm you both psychologically and physically. The psychological effects of DMT can mimic those of several mental illnesses, including:
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Depression
- Schizophrenic disorders
Repeated drug use may also increase your risks for an actual mental health diagnosis.
The possible physical effects of taking DMT include a rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure. They also include involuntary eye movement, lightheadedness, and loss of muscle control. In addition, you may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
A variety of more severe effects can also occur. For example, some people who take the drug experience seizures. Others experience breathing difficulties. If you have pre-existing heart problems, using dimethyltryptamine can increase your risk for cardiac arrest. The same holds true if you also take opioid drugs or medications. DMT use does not trigger the classic mechanisms of addiction. Still, you may find yourself taking the drug on a recurring or habitual basis.
What Is DMT? – Find Out More at Promises Right Step
What is DMT? It’s a powerful, short-acting natural hallucinogen. Consumption of the drug comes with a range of potent, mind-altering effects. In addition, dimethyltryptamine consumption carries a substantial risk for multiple mental and physical side effects.
Want more information on DMT and its potential impact on you or your loved one? Get the answers you need at Promises Right Step. With our help, you can get a complete picture of the dangers associated with this uncommonly used, illegal drug. Call us today at 17135283709 or reach out through our online form.
