2021 AM Posters-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) A Substance of Abuse

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) A Substance of Abuse - 1

Pdf Summary

This case report discusses the effects, complications, and detection of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in a 22-year-old male with a history of mood disorder and polysubstance use. The patient admitted to using DMT to get high and avoid detection on standard drug screens. The rapid metabolization and clearance of DMT present a significant barrier to its detection in blood or urine samples. Studies have shown varying results in establishing a protocol for collection, with the most reproducible study showing peak plasma concentration at 10-15 minutes and undetectable levels within 1 hour. DMT is a recreational psychedelic drug known to produce visual and auditory hallucinations, bodily dissociation, euphoria, fear, anxiety, synaesthesias, and paranoid ideation. Entheogenic use of DMT for spiritual or metaphysical purposes has been known for centuries in different cultures. In the US, DMT is primarily used recreationally due to its intense high and low risk of side effects. Detection of DMT in urine can extend up to 24-48 hours but is considered unreliable due to difficulties in differentiating exogenous intake from basal endogenous production and dietary intake. DMT is not included in standard panel drug tests and requires a send-out laboratory with a turnaround time of 4+ days. Gas chromatography is the gold standard for laboratory testing. DMT is potent, readily available, and difficult to detect, increasing its potential for abuse. Users of DMT should be aware of its potential for harm associated with misuse.

Keywords

DMT

dimethyltryptamine

effects

complications

detection

drug screens

metabolization

clearance

blood samples

urine samples

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