The origin of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM, STP).
Drug testing and analysis – December 01, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
The 1967 street appearance of the powerful psychedelic DOM, distributed by Owsley, posed significant risks for chemist Alexander Shulgin. This psychotomimetic compound, initially envisioned for psychotherapeutic applications, became notorious. Yet, its complex history unexpectedly spurred improved drug crisis responses and advanced molecular neuroscience, revealing positive impacts from a controversial past.
Abstract
The story of the 1967 appearance of the powerful psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM, STP) commonly omits details and often includes hyperbole and inaccuracies. It is well known how and when the drug was first distributed to the public for free by Owsley Stanley, but the role that Alexander Shulgin played in providing that material is not as well understood. In the interest of transparency and historical accuracy, this article attempts to present an accurate account of this well-known but inadequately detailed event. It follows DOM's development as an experimental substance believed to hold potential promise in psychotherapeutic applications through its appearance as a street drug generating bad press and a lasting bad impression among the public. One of the more interesting questions is why Shulgin would have taken such an immense risk in releasing this material to clandestine operators. While DOM was still legal it was also Dow's intellectual property, so discovery of his involvement could have jeopardized his career. The escape is especially curious as all fingers would logically first point towards Shulgin as the source. Drawing from published and unpublished sources, the authors attempt to suggest answers. DOM rapidly faded into oblivion before human pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics could be established. In this account, the reader is informed of the potential value that the compound played in non-clinical molecular neuroscience, elucidating receptor specificity of new drugs, and how mistaken warnings about combining DOM with chlorpromazine led to better non-pharmacological drug crisis response.