Advisor(s)
Peter Hendricks
Committee Member(s)
Chrisopher Henrich
David Schwebel
John Copes
Richard Shelton
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Psychology
Date of Award
9-11-2025
Abstract
The rise in psychedelic use has been accompanied by increased interest in alternative routes of administration, including vaporization. However, little is known about the characteristics and outcomes associated with vaporized forms of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). This mixed-methods study examined the subjective experiences and mental health correlates of individuals who reported using vaporized DMT, vaporized 5-MeO-DMT, or psilocybin mushrooms in the past six months. A total of 209 adults completed an online survey assessing demographic variables, substance use, and psychological functioning, including measures of global health (PROMIS), subjective happiness, magical ideation, spiritual connection, psychosis-like experiences (CAPE-42), and hypomanic symptoms. A subset of participants (n = 65) completed in-depth qualitative interviews exploring motivations for use, acute effects, and perceived psychological impact. Quantitative analyses indicated that vaporized 5-MeO-DMT users and those who used both vaporized both DMT and vaporized 5-MeO-DMT in the past six months reported significantly greater global mental health, subjective happiness, and self-rated health scores compared to the other psychedelic use groups. These same users also endorsed lower levels of depressive and negative psychosis-like symptoms. Dual users of DMT and 5-MeO-DMT reported higher magical ideation scores than users of psilocybin or vaporized DMT alone. There were no significant differences between groups on measures of positive psychosis symptoms, global physical health, or hypomanic symptoms. Qualitative findings complemented the quantitative data, offering contextual insight into the observed improvements in mental health and well-being. Participants described sustained changes in emotional regulation, self-awareness, and behavioral patterns across all three substances, however themes of spiritual insight, intentionality, and ego dissolution were especially prominent among vaporized 5-MeO-DMT users. The findings highlight important distinctions between psychedelic compounds and routes of administration and underscore the need for further research into the psychological effects of vaporized psychedelics. This study contributes novel data on naturalistic use of vaporized DMT and 5-MeO-DMT and suggests potential benefits for mental health and well-being, while also acknowledging the unique risks and variability in subjective experiences.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Ortiz, Cynthia Estrella, "A Short Trip: A Mixed Methods Investigation Of The Perceived Effects Of Vaporized Dmt Vs Vaporized 5-Meo-Dmt" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7386.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7386
