DMT has a long history dating back thousands of years. Indigenous cultures have often used Trusted Source it in religious rituals. For example, there is evidence of its use in Trinidad at the time of Spanish colonists’ arrival.

The drug is the active ingredient in ayahuasca, a traditional South American brewed tea.

People illicitly use DMT for its psychoactive, hallucinogenic effects. Anecdotally, many users report taking the drug to attain spiritual insight. Scientific data suggests its effects on the brain might mimicTrusted Source those of a near-death experience.

Research from the 2021 Global Drug Survey found that 7.4% of respondents reported microdosing with DMT. Microdosing is the practice of taking small doses of a drug to promote insight and creative thinking.

Participants reported a lifetime use of 8.9%, with 4.3% reporting use during the last year. Data from this survey indicates use has increased over time, with usage rates similar to methamphetamine.