DOM

DOM, also called STP, is a synthetic psychedelic of the substituted-amphetamine (DOx) family, first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. It gained infamy in the late 1960s San Francisco scene, where tablets far stronger than users expected caused a wave of overdoses and bad trips. It is a potent, long-acting psychedelic rather than a stimulant in the recreational sense, and its very long duration is central to its risk profile.

DOM is a serotonergic psychedelic that acts primarily as an agonist at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, the receptor target shared by classic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocin. This 5-HT2A activation drives its hallucinogenic effects. Compared with many psychedelics it is unusually potent by weight and unusually slow to clear, which is why its effects persist far longer than a typical psychedelic experience.

Effects include visual distortions, altered thought and perception, emotional intensity, and stimulation. The defining feature is duration: a DOM experience can last well over half a day, far longer than LSD or psilocybin, so someone who assumes a shorter trip can be overwhelmed. Slow onset also invites redosing before the first amount is felt, which can push the experience into frightening territory.

DOM's signature dangers flow from its potency and its extreme duration. Because active amounts are tiny, the margin between a manageable and an overwhelming experience is narrow, and the drug's history is defined by accidental overdose when tablets contained more than expected. An experience lasting many hours longer than anticipated can produce prolonged panic, confusion, and inability to function, and the slow onset drives dangerous redosing. At higher exposures DOM can cause a stimulant-like strain on the body: raised heart rate and blood pressure, and in serious cases vasoconstriction and hyperthermia. As with any illicit tablet or powder, there is no way to confirm identity, dose, or purity without testing, and substances sold as one psychedelic are frequently something else entirely. Difficult psychological reactions can be worsened by an unsafe environment. Anyone experiencing chest pain, a dangerously high temperature, seizures, or a severe psychiatric crisis needs emergency care — call 911, and Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 can advise on exposures. This page has not yet been medically reviewed.