5-MeO-DMT as a mental health tool: exploring possible mechanisms of action, the reactivation phenomenon, and some ethical considerations regarding the Sonoran Desert toad

The short-acting psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT, currently best known for being present in the defense secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad (Incilius alvarius) has been gaining interest as a potential mental health tool. Several naturalistic studies to date have shown preliminary evidence that suggests 5-MeO-DMT may be a helpful adjunct in the treatment of various psychiatric conditions. In this presentation I will share findings from my doctoral research, which explored possible mechanisms that may underlie 5-MeO-DMT’s therapeutic effects documented to date. I will also present findings related to the reactivation phenomenon associated with the use of 5-MeO-DMT among two samples of English-speaking individuals (n=513), and one sample of Spanish-speaking individuals (n=90). Lastly, as a Sonora native, I will offer a perspective based on what I have witnessed unfold around the toad species and the Indigenous groups in the area over the past decade, and the conservation concerns that have emerged as a result of this. In this presentation, I will share findings from my Master’s thesis research which conducted an initial exploratory analysis of prevalence rates, predictors and emotional valence of the reactivation phenomenon among two samples of English-speaking individuals (n=513). I will also present part of my doctoral research findings which expands on this prior work by examining the reactivation phenomenon among a sample of Spanish-speaking individuals (n=90).