Ritualistic Use of Ayahuasca versus Street Use of Similar Substances Seized by the Police: A Key Factor Involved in the Potential for Intoxications and Overdose?
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 15, 2015
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca's ritualistic use highlights its safety compared to recreational consumption of similar substances. In a study analyzing nine ayahuasca extracts, N,N-dimethyltryptamine levels ranged from 402 to 2070.3 μg/mL, while harmine and harmaline were present at 294.5-2893.8 μg/mL and 27.5-181.3 μg/mL, respectively. In contrast, illicit powders contained up to 82% N,N-dimethyltryptamine and only small amounts of harmaline and harmine. The ayahuasca experience mitigates overdose risks through induced vomiting, unlike smoking or inhaling hallucinogens, which increases intoxication risks.
Abstract
The ritualistic use of ayahuasca is becoming a global phenomenon. This beverage contains a combination of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, the main substance responsible for its visionary effect. The recreational use of similar alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine has increased in recent years, mainly because of their hallucinogenic effects. In the present study, the concentrations of psychoactive alkaloids in three powder samples seized by the São Paulo State Police and nine ayahuasca aqueous extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD in an attempt to distinguish between illicit drugs and the religious beverage. The alkaloids detected (μg/mL) in the ayahuasca aqueous extracts were N,N-dimethyltryptamine (402-2070.3), harmaline (27.5-181.3), harmine (294.5-2893.8), and tetrahydroharmine (849.5-2052.5), whereas, of the three powder samples, one contained only N,N-dimethyltryptamine (82% and 2% w/w, respectively) while the other contained only harmaline (16%, w/w) and harmine (12%, w/w). The ritualistic use of ayahuasca involves oral intake and the probability of overdose is minimized by serotonergic stimulation of vagal pathways, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. In contrast, the recreational use of N,N-dimethyltryptamine involves consumption mainly by smoking or inhalation, both of which markedly increase its bioavailability and the potential for intoxications.