Octavio Rettig — Bufo alvarius (5-MeO-DMT) facilitator network
Mexican former physician who popularised the inhalation of vapor from the Sonoran Desert toad (Bufo alvarius / Incilius alvarius, 5-MeO-DMT) globally. Multiple in-ceremony participant deaths and Mexican criminal investigations.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
+2 for multiple documented in-ceremony deaths attributed to a single named facilitator and downstream trainees.
Profile facts
In context
Octavio Rettig built the largest 5-MeO-DMT facilitator network of the 2010s, training hundreds of downstream operators globally and holding mass-ceremony events. Investigative reporting (notably DoubleBlind Magazine, 2019; Chacruna; Spanish-language press) documented multiple participant deaths in his and his trainees' ceremonies, sustained allegations of physical and sexual misconduct, and a Mexican criminal homicide indictment. Independent of the toad's secretion having a strong conservation case for synthetic substitution, the broader 5-MeO-DMT facilitator scene has documented serious safety, consent and screening failures. Representative case for the unregulated global underground-psychedelic facilitator economy.
Recovery resources
- The Dream (podcast) — Jane Marie's investigative podcast on MLM cults.
- Anti-MLM Coalition — Ex-distributor advocacy community focused on MLM exit and financial recovery.
- Truth in Advertising (TINA.org) — Consumer-protection watchdog tracking MLM income-claim and product-safety issues.
- ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) — General referral and cult-aware therapist directory.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center — Steven Hassan's organisation; BITE-model resources and family-side exit guidance.
See the full curated list at /resources.
This profile is in progress — history, deeper BITE evidence and survivor voices are still being added. Contributions welcome via GitHub.
Timeline
- 2010sRettig popularises 5-MeO-DMT toad ceremonies globally
- 2019DoubleBlind investigation published
Sources
- DoubleBlind Magazine investigation (2019) search ↗
- Chacruna Institute reporting search ↗
- Mexican press reporting on the Rettig homicide investigation search ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-29Phase 1 Batch J: per-group recovery resources applied via programmatic palette (closest-fit by category + subCategory + score). Palette: Wellness / MLM.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
- Start herePick the reading path that matches your situation.
- PatternsDocumented control patterns with linked profiles.
- Financial controlCommon pattern in wellness, MLM, and coaching contexts.
- Online groupsMany wellness and coaching groups operate online-first.
- FamiliesHow families and close friends can engage with high-control members.
- RecoveryIf you have left or are preparing to leave.
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Found something wrong on this profile?
We accept correction requests from anyone — current and former members, researchers, journalists, family members, and the listed organisation. Submissions are reviewed by an editor; we do not auto-publish.