DMT: What The Joe Rogan Experience Got Wrong

Many people know who Joe Rogan is. Some associate him with UFC for which he is an expert commentator, while others may recognize him from his many stints as a television host and actor. Most recently, however, Rogan has established himself as a host and producer of the highly successful podcast—The Joe Rogan Experience.

Anyone who has listened to this podcast is aware of the frequency in which Rogan endorses the use of the drug DMT. DMT has grown in popularity among transcendentalist and experimental circles and has developed a large amount of support from individuals who advocate for spiritual use of the drug. Despite the onslaught of support, which has grown exponentially due to The Joe Rogan Experience, this hallucinogen poses a great risk for users. 

What is DMT?

DMT, scientifically known as N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, is an organic compound naturally found in plants and animals. When isolated, DMT becomes psychedelic and is often used for cultural, recreational, and spiritual purposes due to its hallucinogenic effects.

Substances containing DMT have been used ritualistically within Amazonian tribes for over 1,000 years but the hallucinogenic properties of this drug were not discovered by the industrialized world until the mid-1950s.

DMT can be smoked, snorted, injected (rare), or taken orally, usually as tea. Known as “the spirit molecule”, many people report experiencing a simulated near-death experience when high on DMT. Other side effects include visual and auditory distortions or hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and having no perception of time or space. 

What Does Joe Rogan Say About DMT?

A huge proponent of regular DMT use, Joe Rogan once described the high on The Joe Rogan Experience as an “Insane hijacking of your sensory nervous system that produces this spectacular, psychedelic effect that’s so profound that it is literally like a transcendent experience that changes your life”. 

He goes on to credit DMT with providing the brain access to other dimensions and realms, allowing the user to learn about themselves and experience consciousness on a deeper level. Overall, Rogan describes the process of using DMT as a learning experience that nurtures a deep understanding of the universe in its entirety. 

Having aired multiple episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in which he discusses his DMT use, not all experiences he describes sound as positive to the average listener. In one episode, he recalls a day in which he took DMT three times. In his own words, Rogan explains that this experience created a “slippery reality” and left him “messed up” for weeks to months afterward. During this time, he would be driving his car and would imagine cars flying over from the other lane and killing him in a collision. Needless to say, not every experience Rogan has had with DMT has left a positive impact. 

Dangers of DMT 

Despite its long history of being used therapeutically, DMT use poses significant health risks. Adverse side effects of use include: 

• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Panic
• May trigger mental health issues in those predisposed to mental disorders
• Self-harm

DMT has been known to instigate underlying mental health issues in individuals who take the drug. Many users become paranoid and can experience temporary psychosis for days to years afterward. The drug has also been linked to the development of schizophrenia. According to a study conducted by Cambridge University, 47% of participants diagnosed with schizophrenia had tested positive for DMT. 

Do Not Trust Podcasters with Your Health 

Although a successful podcast host, Joe Rogan is not a medical professional and his chronicles of recreational DMT use should not be used as a guidebook to spiritual enlightenment. Not only does The Joe Rogan Experience podcast fail to communicate the dangers of DMT, but the show glamorizes a drug that has poses significant risks to the user.  

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, help is available. At Oasis Recovery, our highly trained addiction specialists are experienced in treating addiction at its source and caring for an individual’s mind, body, and spirit. To learn more about our many programs and services, call us today. We are here to help you on your journey towards recovery.