Use of Benefit Enhancement Strategies among 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) Users: Associations with Mystical, Challenging, and Enduring Effects

ABSTRACT

5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a potent, fast-acting psychedelic. Anecdotal reports from 5-MeO-DMT users suggest that they employ a variety of benefit enhancement (BE) strategies aimed to increase positive effects and decrease any potential challenging effects of the substance, but no empirical study has investigated this claim. We examined the prevalence of BE strategy use using secondary data from a survey of 5-MeO-DMT users (n = 515; M_age = 35.4, SD = 11.7; Male = 79%; White/Caucasian = 86%). Results indicated that BE strategy use was common in this sample. As a secondary aim, we assessed whether the use of BE strategies was associated with acute subjective (i.e., mystical-type, challenging) and persisting effects of 5-MeO-DMT among a subset of respondents who reported using 5-MeO-DMT once in their lifetime (n = 116). Results showed that the use of several BE strategies were associated with significantly more intense mystical-type effects and enduring beliefs about the personal meaning and spiritual significance of their experience, and some BE strategies were associated with less intense or challenging experiences. Data suggests that BE strategies are commonly used, and that the use of BE strategies may be associated with increases in positive mystical-type and enduring effects. The causal influence of BE strategies on acute/persisting effects of 5-MeO-DMT should be examined in longitudinal research.

KEYWORDS:

• 5-MeO-DMT
• tryptamine
• benefit enhancement
• mystical-type experience

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the respondents for sharing their time and insights regarding their experiences. Additionally, we thank Dr. Harold Rosenberg, Dr. Joseph P Barsuglia, Dr. Robert Grant, and Ms. Elise Renn for their support with study design.

Author Disclosures

Role of funding source: During his work on this study, Dr. Davis was supported by a NIDA T32 training grant (#DA07209). Source Research Foundation provided financial support to RL for administrative and research assistance on this project.

Contributors: Both authors were responsible for study conceptualization, statistical analyses, and for writing, editing and finalizing the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

Both authors are current Board Members at Source Research Foundation.

Additional information

Funding

During his work on this study, Dr. Davis was supported by a NIDA T32 training grant [#DA07209]. Source Research Foundation provided financial support to RL for administrative and research assistance on this project.