Dimethyltryptamine

DMT can be injected, smoked or snorted.

Smoking DMT

Because DMT is a very harsh and potent drug to smoke, it is sometimes mixed with herbs – such as ayahuasca – to make changa. Each batch of changa is different depending on what herbs are used, so strengths vary.

Drinking DMT

The South American plant, chacruna, contains DMT and is sometimes mixed with the ayahuasca plant to make the shamanic brew, ayahuasca.

Injecting DMT

DMT can be prepared for injecting, and this is particularly dangerous.

Snorting DMT

DMT can be crushed up into a powder and snorted.

DMT is known for giving users a very intense ‘trip’ – the name given to the experience of taking psychedelic drugs.

The world appears very distorted when you trip on DMT: colours, sounds, objects and even time can seem very strange, and some people experience out-of-body experiences.

Taking DMT can make you:

• see and hear things that aren’t there (hallucinate), which might be a good or bad experience
• feel like time and movement is speeding up or slowing down
• feel like colours and sounds are distorted, this is sometimes called ‘visuals’
• have double vision
• feel like you’re having an out-of-body experience

As with any hallucinogenic drug, people can react unpredictably when they’re on DMT.

Some users have reported feeling like they’re going through a near death experience, and become very quiet and inward-looking as a result.

Some people report not being to move while they’re on DMT.

How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.

To kick in

When smoked, DMT kicks in very quickly. When taken as part of an ayahuasca ceremony, it can take much longer to take effect.

How long it lasts

DMT trips are known for being extremely intense but also very short – sometimes lasting only a few minutes. When taken as part of an ayahuasca ceremony, a DMT trip can last several hours.

Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.

There’s no evidence to suggest that DMT is addictive, but you can become tolerant to its effects. This means you need to take more of it to get the same effect as before.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.