Scientist have dosed the first participant in a London trial investigating the effects of a psychedelic substance 5-MeO-DMT, found in the Sonoran desert toads on the human brain, The substance causes powerful hallucinations, euphoria  and disassociation. The toads are found in the north-western Mexico and the south-western United States.

In 2022, the National Park Service warned people to stop licking the back of the toads to induce a psychedelic  trip, as the amphibians’ skin contains poisonous toxins.

Beckley Psych, a biopharmaceutical firm created a synthetic version of 5 MeO-DMT, named BPL -003, as part of the trial  looking into the drug’s effect on brain. The trial taking place in the Imperial College, London will see unto twenty healthy volunteers given a placebo and a 12ml dose of BPL-003 on separate occasions over a month. They will also study brain scans to measure the electrical activity in the brain. Researchers hire to understand better how psychedelic  create “mystical experiences” and whether these could have a potential therapeutic benefit, the result of the trials are expected early 2026. Dr. Christopher Zimmermann, head of the DMT Research Group at the centre of the psychedelic Research at Imperial college , London, said: “ This study will be the first assessing the effects of 5 -MeO-DMT in the human brain and may provide significant advancements in our understanding of consciousness, which are going to be particularly effective at the inducing stages of ego-dissolution and may help us to better understand the relationship between experience, the sense of self , and the brain.”

The US National Park Service warned against licking Sonoran desert roads , as depicted on the TV shows including  the Simpsons and Family Guy.

The North American one of the largest Toad at nearly seven inches  (18cm) long secrete a potent toxin from their glands which can make you sick if you handle the frog or get the poison in your mouth. 

Beckley Psytech is also running two separate trials investigating whether psychedelic drugs could be used to cure  mental illness such as alcohol addiction and depression.