Psychedelics
Ayahuasca (The Brew)
Street names: Yagé, Hoasca, Daime, La Purga, Mother Ayahuasca
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- 4–6 h visionary ceremony: intense purging (vomit/diarrhea), geometric visions, emotional release
- The MAOI in the vine makes the DMT orally active
⚠Key risks
- THE DEADLY COMBINATION: vine MAOIs + antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs/MAOIs) or MDMA = serotonin syndrome — deaths documented at retreats
- Hypertensive crisis with tyramine-containing foods (aged cheese, cured meats) around ceremonies
- Cardiac events in vulnerable participants; deaths of healthy-seeming users reported 2015–2025
- Retreat industry is unregulated — screening and emergency readiness vary wildly
- Psychological destabilization after intense sessions ('the vine keeps working for weeks')
✚Overdose signs
- Serotonin syndrome: agitation, clonus, fever, confusion
- Severe vomiting with dehydration
- Chest pain, collapse
Category comparison — Psychedelics
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayahuasca (The Brew) | Schedule I components | THE DEADLY COMBINATION: vine MAOIs + antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs/MAOIs) or MDMA = serotonin syndrome — deaths documented at retreats; Hypertensive crisis with tyramine-containing foods (aged cheese, cured meats) around ceremonies | Retreats $500–$3,500 per week |
| DMT (dimethyltryptamine) | Schedule I | Psychological distress ('bad trips'); Dangerous behavior if unprepared | ~$20–$60 per 50–100 mg dose |
| Peyote (mescaline cactus) | Schedule I | Severe nausea/vomiting; Psychological distress | ~$10–$30 per button where sold |
| Mescaline powder | Schedule I | Heavy nausea at dose; Panic/psychosis in vulnerable users | ~$20–$60 per dose |
| 2C-B | Schedule I | Very dose-sensitive — steep curve between fun and overwhelming; Panic attacks | ~$10–$30 per pill or ~$50–$120 per gram |
| 4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin) | Analogue prosecutions | Sold as 'legal mushrooms' — buyers misjudge dose; Panic, risky behavior | ~$20–$50 per dose |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Ayahuasca (The Brew) look like?
Thick brown bitter tea brewed from Banisteriopsis caapi vine + DMT-containing leaves (chacruna/chaliponga)
What are the signs of a Ayahuasca (The Brew) overdose?
Serotonin syndrome: agitation, clonus, fever, confusion; Severe vomiting with dehydration; Chest pain, collapse Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
THE DEADLY COMBINATION: vine MAOIs + antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs/MAOIs) or MDMA = serotonin syndrome — deaths documented at retreats Dependence can develop with regular use.