Can You Die on DMT? Understanding the Risks & Dangers

Danny spent the first nine years of his career working in youth residential treatment. After managing that program for six years, Danny moved to AspenRidge and now leads the clinical team. Nolan’s death is one of at least six known deaths at Peruvian ayahuasca retreats in recent years. A shaman at the retreat later admitted to giving Nolan too large a dose of the drug.

Prevalence, Risks, and Addiction

While proponents of ayahuasca say the substance can trigger a transcendental experience, using the drug is not always enjoyable. Long-term effects of DMT abuse are unknown, but there is little evidence the drug can cause long-lasting problems or addiction. Some side effects are more likely to occur when taking DMT alongside other illicit or prescription medications such as alcohol, opioids or marijuana. Compassionate support, expert guidance, and tailored programs for adolescent mental health. Brittany has 15 years of experience in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse field.

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• The lingering effects of a negative experience can last for several days after taking the substance.
• Withdrawal symptoms, though uncommon, can include anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
• Whether it’s swallowed as a tea, smoked or injected, dimethyltryptamine causes intense visual hallucinations, euphoria and altered perceptions of reality, including time.
• Behavioral therapies may help with the confusion or fear that comes from visual disturbances.
• For instance, the experiences DMT produces are very similar to the experiences of people who have suffered a stroke or brain injury.
• An overdose on DMT can also occur in tandem with an overdose on other substances.

Like other hallucinogenic substances, DMT can alter a person’s perception. Drugs like DMT are known for inducing effects similar to those of psychosis. Paranoia and hallucinations are the most common of DMT’s side effects. People use DMT for the intense psychedelic trip that feels like an out-of-body experience. But a range of physical and mental side effects accompany this powerful trip, some of which can be pretty unpleasant.

• In modern contexts, DMT can be vaporized and inhaled, consumed orally with MAOI-containing brews, or occasionally injected.
• With regular use, a person will develop a tolerance for DMT over time.
• While LSD can alter a person’s mental state for 12 hours or longer, the effects of DMT may last mere minutes to a few hours.
• Mixing the hallucinogenic tea with these drugs may cause a dangerous spike in serotonin levels, according to a widely cited 1998 article in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
• There are also a variety of drugs that can cause nerve damage, coma, or death when mixed with DMT.
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Treatment Options and How to Pay for Recovery

Therefore, it is doubtful that physical dependence on DMT occurs, although individuals who chronically misuse the drug may develop emotional issues when they abruptly discontinue use. Although it is not classified as an addictive substance, it has health risks, can create frightening hallucinations, and could cause psychological dependence. The use of this substance can lead to serious and dangerous situations for those who have psychological issues or a mental health illness, such as schizophrenia. A bad trip is a negative experience someone has while under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug, often featuring fear, paranoia, disorientation, confusion, and panic attacks.

Cost and Paying for Treatment

She holds a master’s in clinical psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. Additionally, she has a master’s in holistic wellness and is trained in EMDR therapy for both in-person and virtual settings. Kathleen has more than 15 years of experience treating people who have a substance use disorder.

If you or someone else is experiencing concerning side effects from DMT, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Some say the comedown experience is harsh and abrupt, leaving you feeling a bit unsettled, anxious, and preoccupied by what you just experienced. There’s also synthetic DMT, which comes in the form of a white, crystalline powder. This type of DMT is typically smoked or vaporized, though some snort or inject it. Outside AspenRidge, Jordan enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and playing volleyball and soccer.

Clonidine for Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment

DMT can interact with other substances in complex and unpredictable ways, increasing the risk of adverse effects. Combining DMT with other hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD or psilocybin, can amplify the intensity of the experience, potentially leading to a bad trip or other negative outcomes. DMT (N, N-dimethyltryptamine) is a psychedelic drug with short-lived hallucinogenic effects. It is commonly used in traditional ceremonies, particularly those using ayahuasca, a plant that contains DMT and is drunk as a tea. Taking large doses of DMT can result in intense or unpleasant effects, though these typically don’t lead to overdose or death.

The effects of DMT anxiety can include sweating, rapid heart rate, trouble breathing, overwhelming fear, paranoia, and irrational thoughts that consume the mind. Additionally, DMT can impact blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate. If can u od on dmt a person is experiencing anxiety, or has in the past, these changes can lead to the onset of an anxiety attack. It is unclear if breathing problems are a side effect of the anxiety DMT can induce or if they are related to the nervous system directly. Many users describe the severe anxiety they experienced as similar to a panic attack. The effects of hallucinogenic drugs also go beyond the initial episode or “trip” someone experiences after taking the drug.

There aren’t any reports of toxicity from long-term use of DMT. But there is concern over the effects it might have on heart health, since it raises blood pressure. Adolescents are at a much greater risk for developing long-term physical or psychological difficulties as the result of DMT use, as their brains are continuing to develop.

These are live-in facilities where you work with a therapist on the causes of your addiction while attending group therapy and addiction education sessions. Many inpatient facilities can treat polydrug use as well as any mental or medical issues you may be experiencing. If you use DMT in combination with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor like ayahuasca, you are at a higher risk of overdosing. DMT is naturally occurring; however, when you abuse it, you are using a synthetic version of the compound.