The iconic Alexander Shulgin synthesized and created over a hundred different drugs, some of which are well-known, like the happy pill MDMA and Berlin club scene favourite 2-CB. Still, others remain relatively obscure, like a few tryptamines in the 5-MeO series. One of these is the fairly unknown (but definitely illegal) designer drug 5-MeO-DALT, which was released to the public in 2004 after Shulgin sent some synthesis information about it to an associate named Murple which was then published on Erowid. Treated as a “research chemical,” it’s seemingly most often purchased online as a recreational alternative to DMT-N, N, if it’s purchased at all.
While not every psychonaut and psychedelic explorer will know about DALT, quite a few scientists and drug researchers do, and a good amount of papers and articles will pop up after a quick Google search for the substance. There’s not a lot of recorded information about human use, but it has been consumed in the past. Some curious folks have managed to get their hands on it, and it’s thanks to their self-experimentation that allows us to know more about this mysterious compound today. Described as a “strange drug” that exists mostly in the research chemical market, DALT is a bit of a weird one that we wanted to find out about for ourselves.
What is it?
How it works, street names, and appearance of 5-MeO-DALT
5-MeO-DALT or N,N-di allyl-5-methoxy tryptamine is a psychedelic tryptamine that works by binding to 5-HT receptors. It’s known by a few street names, including Foxtrot, Lucy-N-Nate, Purple Bomb, and Psychedelic Crack. Sometimes, when combined with other substances, it becomes known as Black Mamba, Formula X, Dizzle Dust, or Street Magic, among many others. DALT’s appearance is similar to other freebase powders — it’s crystalline with colours ranging from solid white to a pale yellow or tan and even grey. Tablets containing DALT can be anything from green to purple.
How is it taken?
Though not much information about DALT exists online, scouring some drug forums suggests that users typically smoke it or take it orally. An oral dose can range anywhere from 4 to 35 mg, with “normal” doses seemingly hitting between 12 -25 mg and a “strong” dose going from 25-35 mg. Like other molecules in this family, DALT can be vaped and smoked, with a vaporizer dose being anywhere from 3 to 15 mg. One Erowid trip report described it as having a “putrid taste.” According to the WHO document on DALT, the most common way to consume it is orally. According to Shulgin, “[w]ith oral administration, it is common to be aware of the effects in less than 15 minutes and to be fully there at the half-hour point.” Effects will typically last one to two hours depending on the dosage, and one report has a user back to baseline by the third hour after taking 16 mg of it orally.
What does it feel like?
Anecdotal reports on drug forums suggest that 5-MeO-DALT lacks the typical visual and hallucinogenic properties that are telltale signs of other psychedelics and tryptamines. Instead, the effects of 5-MeO-DALT appear to be primarily physical, including some particularly non-characteristic ones of other psychedelics, such as an increase in appetite. Effects have a rapid onset, are intense, and are very short-acting. Other effects are a very noticeable “body high” that feels like an all-over tingling. The effects also have a very rapid drop-off.
The effects of 5-MeO-DALT seem to be less similar to classical psychedelics and more euphoric, upbeat, and confidence-boosting like MDMA. Many people report a deepened love and appreciation for music, and an almost uncontrollable need to start dancing.
There’s also been some research done on using 5-MeO-DALT for the treatment of cluster headaches, known as the most painful neurological disorder. You can read a bit more about that in this Vice article, where the author describes dosing 15 mg every five days when they feel a headache season coming on, and claim that this has been the “most effective” treatment they’ve found.
Bad trips
Since not much is known about the substance, bad trip tales are a bit hard to come by. According to the WHO report, in the UK, a man snorted 350 mg of 5-MeO-DALT and walked into traffic, where he was hit by a truck and killed.
How do you get it and how much does it cost?
It seems like for those looking to buy, the internet is the best place to look. Capsules and freebase powder are sold online with prices ranging from around $23 to $40 USD for a gram, which can be enough for 40 to 50 doses, depending on one’s use. However, take this information with a grain of salt — we got it from the WHO report in 2020, and things may have changed drastically since then. Also mentioned in the WHO report is a story of a man who purchased a tablet with an “unknown” about of 5-MeO-DALT in it under the name of Lucy-N-Nate at a convenience store in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. A recent look at a few research chemical vendor websites shows 5-MeO-DALT selling for prices starting at $180 USD for 10 grams.
Is it legal?
5-MeO-DALT is a controlled substance in China and Japan. It is a Class A drug in the UK as part of the tryptamine blanket ban. It is illegal in Singapore and a Schedule I substance in Sweden. In the USA, it’s not banned on the federal level, but it is illegal in Florida and Louisiana. However, 5-MeO-DiPT (more on that one later) is federally illegal in the USA, and if DALT is considered an analog of that, it could technically be illegal as well.
Harm reduction
If you’re planning on experimenting with 5-MeO-DALT or any psychedelics, especially research chemicals, make sure you do your due diligence to ensure an experience that’s as safe as possible.
Don’t mix drugs
Experiment with a small dose first
Do a lot of research so you know what you’re getting yourself into
If possible, have a trip sitter or let someone know what you’re doing
Make sure you’re in the right set and setting
Test your substances to make sure the synthesis is pure and contains no potentially toxic or harmful additives
Know your dose and measure responsibly
References and further reading
5-MeO-DALT: the freebase of N,N-diallyl-5-methoxytryptamine
Treatment of Cluster Headache Symptoms using Synthetic Tryptamine N,N-Diallyl-5 Methoxytryptamine
Sofie Mikhaylova is a psychedelics, pop culture, and travel writer, among other things. She has a long background in the music industry, and is overall a bit of a multi-hyphenate. Her work has spanned numerous mediums and industries, from mushrooms to experimental electronic music. Her writing has appeared in Vice, leafie, Psychedelic Spotlight, The Washington Post, Fodor's Travel, Double Dot Magazine, and more. Find her on Instagram, her newsletter Sofieland, her podcast Sofieland, and her website.