Drugs Addiction

Slang:

Dimitri

Chemical name:

Dimethyltryptamine, Methoxydimethyltryptamine

Background:

DMT is a powerful hallucinogen, originally sourced from Amazonian plants but now produced synthetically. It is one of a number of drugs known as short-acting tryptamines. Its sister, 5-Meo-DMT is up to 10 times more powerful. Either drug has quick and very intense hallucinogenic effects. DMT comes in crystalline form and is usually smoked from a pipe or bong in very small doses.

The effects:

• People who smoke DMT have described feeling rapidly propelled into an intense alternate reality;
• The primary effects last between 15 and 20 minutes, with a cooling off period of a couple of hours before returning to normal;
• Users have described seeing the face of god to various experiences from visiting other worlds to having conversations with aliens;
• There is an abrupt return to reality and most users will experience disorientation when they come round.

The risks:

• It's not uncommon for those who take large amounts of DMT to suffer psychological and emotional difficulties for weeks afterwards;
• The smoke of DMT can cause throat and lung irritation;
• Integration of the trip into daily life can cause anxiety, difficulty focusing on daily tasks, preoccupation with the experience, and insomnia.

If you are planning on taking this drug:

• If you haven't tripped before, or even if you have, it is best to be in the presence of people you know, and in a safe environment like your living room rather than at a festival;
• If you are in the midst of emotional or psychological upheaval it is advisable not to take DMT as you risk a bad trip in which you may experience overwhelming hallucinations, anxiety, and fear;
• Those with a family history of psychological problems are at risk of triggering such conditions in themselves;
• Most individuals taking DMT do so with a partner, to take hold of the pipe once the experience begins. It is impossible to stand up, talk, move or do anything once the trip starts, until you come down;
• DMT can cause your heart rate and blood pressure to increase suddenly, so those with heart problems or high blood pressure should give this drug a wide berth;
• Mixing DMT with other drugs is NOT advised. It is an overwhelmingly powerful drug, and most users report that one or two trips is enough for them. Mixing stimulants with this drug should also be avoided, because of the additional (potentially lethal) strain it puts on your heart.

The law:

DMT is Class A under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act. This means it is illegal to produce, supply or possess in any form. Maximum penalty for possession is seven years in jail.