A Retrospective Survey of Low Dose 5-MeO-DMT Experiences

Potential applications for therapy, mindfulness, and mental health

Background

In 2022, we began interviewing individuals who used 5-MeO-DMT vape pens with low dose formulations (less than 2mg per dose). Meditators reported deep and long meditation sessions, and non-meditators reported heightened mind-body connections, emotional release, psychological insights, and spiritual experiences lasting 5-30 minutes. The kicker – all while feeling safe, mindfully present, and in control. This was different than high dose 5-MeO-DMT experiences that transported people to intense, non-ordinary states of consciousness.

What was going on?

Was it safe?

Was it a placebo?

We wanted to learn more so we decided to formally investigate the benefits and safety of these low-dose vape pens relative to a placebo. In other words, let’s do a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). Our science hearts swooned at the idea (for those unfamiliar, RCTs are the gold standard for scientific evidence to assess the benefits and safety of drugs or treatments). We talked to clinical researchers and manufacturers in Canada about designing the study, and learned it would cost $20,000 per order for pharmaceutical grade 5-MeO-DMT. Okay, scratch that for now - back to the drawing board.

Enter idea number 2: a retrospective survey focusing on self-reported low-dose experiences. In other words, let’s carry out a pilot survey to understand and describe the experiences of this phenomenon. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, we aimed to answer the following research questions:

1)    What are the demographic characteristics of adults using low-dose pens?

2)    What are the subjective physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual experiences from using a low-dose pen?

3)    Do users perceive the experience as therapeutic, and if so, how?

4)    What are the adverse events and difficult experience reports from low-dose pen use?

5)    What are the set and setting during these experiences?

6)    Among those who meditated during the experience, how did the low-dose pen affect their meditation?

Why this approach? Well, this would be a feasible and cost-effective means of gathering data on a large number of individuals using these pens. It would provide initial insights into individual experiences, the potential benefits, and safety considerations, while also offering future directions for others to develop experimental research, mindfulness or psycholytic therapy protocols, spiritual practices and more.

Currently, we have received responses from 24 participants, and we are still actively collecting data. We have a sneak peak of some pilot results below and we expect the full report, ‘Exploring Patterns: A retrospective survey report of low-dose 5-MeO-DMT experiences and potential applications for therapy, mindfulness, and mental health’ to be released Q1 2024. We cannot wait to share the findings with you as part of our first research project.

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Exploring Patterns: An interim report sample of results from a retrospective survey of low-dose 5-MeO-DMT experiences and potential applications for therapy, mindfulness, and mental health

Table of Contents

I. Summary

II. Methods

III. Results

IV. Interpretation & Future Directions

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I. Summary

This interim report sample presents preliminary findings from a survey analysis exploring the experiences of those consuming low-doses of 5-MeO-DMT (less than 2mg per dose). A convenience sample of 24 adults aged 25+, who reported using a low-dose 5-MeO-DMT vape pen, participated in the study. Participants completed an online survey that collected descriptive information on participants' demographics and detailed aspects of their experiences.

Participants had a mean age of 41.2 years (SD = 11.1), with ages ranging from 25 to 58 years. The majority of participants identified as male (66.7%), with most identifying as White (62.7%) or Multiracial (8.3%). The majority of participants had completed an undergraduate degree or higher (79.2%) and 66.7% of the participants reported being married.

In terms of their experiences, participants reported dosages between 0.5mg and 3mg over a one-hour period, with 1mg dose as the most common (38.9%). The settings in which the experiences occurred varied, with 38.9% of participants experiencing it at home alone and 33.3% experiencing it outside with others. The majority of participants (88.9%) found the experience to be therapeutic, and 70% reported having insights or realizations. Almost half (47.3%) described their experience as having spiritual or mystical features. Among the participants who engaged in meditation during the experience (n = 16), 43.8% reported meditating for a longer duration than usual and approximately 81.3% of participants found it easier to be in the present moment while meditating with 5-MeO-DMT. Five participants reported adverse events or challenging experiences, including mild anxiety and nausea.

Qualitative descriptions provided by participants shed light on their experiences. Participants reported physical sensations, such as tingling or heaviness and feelings of relaxation. Enhanced mindfulness was characterized by a greater ability to stay in the present and focused while meditating. Some experiences included spiritual qualities, evoking feelings of inner peace and a broader perceptive beyond one’s self. Insights and self-reflection were noted regarding unhealthy relationships and behaviours. Additionally, participants described processing and releasing emotions.

These preliminary findings suggest that low-dose 5-MeO-DMT experiences have the potential for therapeutic benefits and increased mindfulness. Mild adverse events were reported, suggesting a positive safety profile during acute use may be possible. A larger sample size and further analysis are warranted to gain a deeper understanding of the potential applications for therapy, mindfulness, and mental health.

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II. Methods

Recruitment

A convenience sample was recruited from various sources, including online forums where individuals shared their 5-MeO-DMT experiences and psychedelic community groups in Canada. Additional word-of-mouth referrals were obtained through communications with psychedelic guides.

Participants

Adults aged 25 years and above who reported using a low-dose 5-MeO-DMT vape pen (1mg per dose or lower) within the last 7 days were eligible to participate in the study. They were required to have proficiency in reading and writing English to comprehend the survey questions accurately. All participants were informed about the purpose of the study, and the confidentiality, privacy, and anonymity of their information were assured.

Data Collection

Participants were administered an online survey aimed at gathering information about their experiences with 5-MeO-DMT. Closed-answer questions covered demographic information such as age, sex, ethnicity, level of education, and marital status. Additionally, participants were asked about their level of meditation experience (none, low, medium, high), total number of psychedelic experiences in life and current pattern of use, prior spiritual or mystical experiences (yes/no), dosage of 5-MeO-DMT they had used, whether they set an intention before use (yes/no), whether they meditated during the experience (yes/no), and if they had challenging experiences or adverse events occur (yes/no). Participants were also asked to indicate whether they perceived the 5-MeO-DMT experience as therapeutic (yes/no), involving psychological insights or realizations (yes/no), or having a spiritual or mystical quality (yes/no).

Open-ended questions were included to allow participants to provide descriptions of the setting and the experience. These questions focused on physical, emotional, psychological, as well as descriptions of any therapeutic aspects, psychological insights or realizations, spiritual or mystical aspects, and challenging aspects or adverse events, if applicable.

For participants who reported meditating during their experiences, additional questions were included to capture specific features of their meditation. These questions explored the length of the meditation session, how the duration was affected (shorter than usual, about the same as usual, longer than usual), the impact on their ability to be present in the moment (easier, no change, more difficult), and whether the meditation was deeper than usual (yes/no). Open-ended questions were provided for participants to provide further descriptions related to these aspects.

Data Analysis

Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to obtain demographic information and details about the participants' experiences with low-dose 5-MeO-DMT. Continuous variables were reported using means, standard deviations and ranges. Categorical variables were reported using proportions. Pairwise deletion was applied to variables with missing data.

Qualitative description methodology was employed to provide a straightforward description of the low-dose experiences and identify recurring themes. Long-form responses in the survey about the experiences were reviewed and coded. Preliminary code clusters were organized into groupings of dominant themes and sub-themes with quotes to substantiate them. Notes about how these themes interrelated and connected to therapeutic aspects or psychological insights were recorded. To maximize the credibility of the themes, research staff discussed and compared preliminary codes and themes until consensus was achieved. Any new themes that emerged from this discussion were also included in the analysis. This approach allowed for a comprehensive exploration of participants' experiences, therapeutic aspects, insights gained, and subjective dimensions while preserving participants' perspectives.

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III. Results

Section 1: Demographics

The survey collected data from 24 participants aged 25 and above. The participants had a mean age of 41.2 years (Standard Deviation = 11.1), with a range of 25-58 years. The majority of participants identified as male (66.7%), while 33.3% identified as female. The ethnic distribution of participants included 62.5% White, 8.3% Asian, 4.2% Middle Eastern, and 8.3% Multiracial. In terms of education, 79.2% had completed an undergraduate degree or higher. The majority of participants were married (66.7%).

Section 2: Data on Experiences

Participants reported various dosages of 5-MeO-DMT in their one-hour sessions. The reported dosages ranged from 0.5mg to 3mg, with 38.9% consuming a 1mg dose. The majority of participants (88.9%) found the experience to be therapeutic. Additionally, 70% reported having insights or realizations, while 47.3% described experiencing something mystical or spiritual. Most participants (75%) reported no adverse events or challenging experiences. Among the few who did report adverse events, three mentioned mild anxiety and two reported mild nausea. Notably, all participants expressed their willingness to try the low-dose pen again.

Among the participants who engaged in meditation during the experience (n = 16), 43.8% reported meditating for a longer duration than usual, while 37.5% reported meditating for the same amount of time. Only 6.3% reported meditating for a shorter duration. Furthermore, 81.3% of participants found it easier to be in the present moment while meditating. About 46.7% reported experiencing a deeper meditative state compared to their usual practice.

Section 3: Qualitative Descriptions

A. Themes of participants’ experience descriptions (n = 24)

Theme 1: Physical Sensations

Participants described physical sensations during their low-dose 5-MeO-DMT experiences. These sensations included tingling, buzzing, and a feeling of heaviness in their bodies. Participants also reported physical relaxation.

Participant #5: “Body buzzing / tingling at extremities.”

Participant #12: “Physically, I felt heavy and deeply relaxed, as if sinking into my body.”

Participant #20: "Overall, I felt incredibly relaxed while also conscious of my physical feelings. I was quite familiar with restorative yoga and felt like I had just finished a session of that after my experience."

Theme 2: Enhanced Mindfulness

Participants reported enhanced mindfulness, characterized by increased concentration and a heightened sense of being in the present moment. Some described calmness and improved focus on their breath or meditation practice.

Participant #8: "The ability it afforded me to concentrate on my meditation. It seems to block out a lot of the distractions and background noise when meditating and allows me to feel like I'm more or less in a vacuum and more easily able to concentrate on my practice."

Participant #6: “Increased absorption in the moment.”

Participant #3: "A sense of calmness and ability to focus on my breath. My body slowly started to unwind and I could feel the tension disappear."

Participant #2: “Less monkey mind, less ego fear, content in the now.”

Theme 3: Spiritual and Mystical Experiences

Some participants described their experiences as having spiritual or mystical qualities. These experiences evoked feelings of inner peace, joy, and a broader perspective beyond their sense of self.

Participant #21: "As with most psychedelics I take, I always feel a sense of humbleness, probably caused by the ego loss that most psychedelic drugs give you, but I take comfort in the fact that you can lose yourself like that and see the world from essentially an unbiased perspective."

Participant #5: "Sense of something deeper/more important than my personality. A peeling back of regular consciousness."

Participant #11: "I felt a profound sense of peace and joy, as if being enveloped in a comforting embrace. I felt a feeling of lightness, as if my burdens were lifted away."

B. Themes of participants describing their experience as therapeutic and/or having insights (n = 16)

Theme 1: Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

Participants described gaining insights into their own behaviours, patterns, and relationships through self-reflection. They reported realizations about dysfunctional relationships, self-doubt, toxic dynamics, and the need for new perspectives. These insights contributed to personal growth and a better understanding of themselves.

Participant #6: "I got insights into my dysfunctional relationship with food and how it originated."

Participant #10: "I had insights about my own self-doubt and saw a toxic relationship from a different perspective. It’s as if I stepped out of the relationship and looked at it through a crystal ball. I realized that doubting myself was causing toxicity."

Theme 2: Emotional Release and Processing

Some participants reported emotional release and catharsis, as repressed emotions surfaced and were openly acknowledged and worked through. This allowed for one participant to have an insight into relationships and a heightened ability to tap into thoughts and feelings. This experience served as a catalyst for emotional release ad processing.

Participant #2: "Felt sadness and exhaled a bunch and cried. Felt like a massive relief of emotions - lots of catharsis. [5-MeO-DMT]…brought it to the surface [for me] to acknowledge it and process it openly and work through those emotions. Overall, felt that it helped me process negative emotions and have more insight into relationships."

Participant #6: "I was able to tap into thoughts, feelings, and emotions more than usual."

IV. Interpretation & Future Directions

This sneak preview of the data analysis provides preliminary insights into the experiences of individuals consuming low-doses of 5-MeO-DMT. The findings suggest that these experiences have the potential for therapeutic benefits and increased mindfulness. Participants reported positive outcomes with mild adverse events, indicating a positive safety profile during acute use may be possible. However, it is important to acknowledge that these findings are based on a limited sample size in a non-experimental design and should be interpreted with caution.

To gain a deeper understanding of the potential applications of low-dose 5-MeO-DMT for therapy, mindfulness, and mental health, additional data collection and further analysis are planned. The research team is dedicated to expanding the sample size and ensuring diversity in the recruitment strategy to improve the generalizability of the results.

The project is expected to be completed in 2024, and the final report will provide comprehensive insights. To stay updated on the progress of this research project, please subscribe below.

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