It causes hallucinations and impairs coordination. The high is almost immediate when smoked. Within five minutes it causes uncontrollable laughter or panic.
While this could be a description for LSD or even marijuana, it can also be used to describe the new "it" drug, salvia. But there is one important difference to note -- salvia is legal, at least for now.
Before last week, many people had never heard of the herbal drug salvia, let alone thought about smoking it recreationally. But a leaked video of pop princess Miley Cyrus changed all that, bringing salvia to the mainstream.
As early reports began circulating that there was a video of Miley smoking out of a bong, her camp immediately went on the defense stating that she wasn't smoking marijuana, rather the herb salvia, which they stressed is legal in California.
Legal or not, the video has stirred up heavy controversy and left many parents wondering what exactly is salvia and whether it is something they need to worry about.
Salvia divinorum is a highly potent herb from the mint and sage families. But unlike its relatives, salvia's leaves are sold as an alternative to marijuana because of the hallucinogenic effects it produces.
While the drug is currently legal in many of the states, Florida, Virginia and Illinois are among the 15 that have prohibited the substance.
In addition to controversy, the video has stirred up sales for the herbal drug. TMZ is reporting that salvia sales have surged since the release of the video last week.
This increased interest is causing several states, including California, to reconsider their stance on its legal status. Politicians, doctors and parents are concerned about the impact the video will have on kids and young adults, especially considering the accessibility of salvia. Because it is considered a legal substance, in some cases it can be easier for minors to buy salvia than cigarettes.
But again, simply because it's legal doesn't mean there isn't cause for concern. Salvia is often compared to illegal drugs; it is smoked and has a similar appearance to marijuana, and brings on hallucinations, a similar effect to LSD. The high is intense but the trip is substantially shorter than that of other hallucinogens. Often the effects are gone within 20 minutes. Even with the relatively short trip time, the experience can be intense and even scary for some.
Unlike LSD and mushrooms, which act like serotonin, salvia acts through opioid receptors and even more specifically through Kappa opioid receptors. This is in contrast to the receptors that morphine and heroin act on. These receptors are responsible for the feelings of paranoia and anxiety that can lead to dysphoric effects like unease and depression. Despite the increased likelihood that negative side effects will be produced, not all users experience them and they are subject to the individual and dependent on the actual amount consumed.
The number of hits, as with other drugs, has been found to closely correlate with the amount of functionality problems exhibiting themselves in diction and fluency of movements.
The effect salvia has on an individual is subjective, but additional effects that have been tied to the drug include revisiting past memories, sensations of motion, visions of membranes, merging with or becoming objects and a sense of overlapping realities.
Although evidence seems to show that salvia use is relatively safe in the short-term, little is currently known about the long-term effects of salvia and studies are underway to find out if it holds any medicinal value. Studies are also being conducted to learn whether or not the drug holds any addictive properties.
But in the meantime, the medical community stresses caution, as there are still a lot of unknown variables with the drug and its effects, both short and long-term. What we do know is that salvia puts teenagers at high risk for a "bad" trip, which could mean anything from extreme anxiety attacks to sadness and depression. And while the high doesn't last a significant period of time, the intensity is severe and can lead to severe reactions.
Importantly, the hallucinations and distortions of reality make one thing pretty clear -- this drug should NEVER be tried when driving. As for Miley, it seems she has introduced salvia to a new following with her endorsement -- so expect this drug to become increasingly popular in the coming months.
About the Author:
Adi Jaffe, Ph.D. is a Los Angeles addiction psychologist and researcher. Himself a former drug addict and convicted drug dealer, Dr. Jaffe is an expert on substance abuse, especially on the neuroscience and policy issues involved. Today, he is a UCLA-affiliated researcher on addictions, founder of AllAboutAddiction.com and a columnist for Psychology Today.
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Dr. Harold Koplewicz: Salvia: Good For Research, Bad For Recreation
Bonnie Fuller: Miley Cyrus' Bong Smoking Is a Desperate Cry for Her Parents to Pay Attention
Salvia divinorum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
7 Facts About Salvia Divinorum, The Drug Miley Cyrus Might Have ...
Who the hell would ever use salvia as an alternative to marijuana? Marijuana is relaxing and rather subtle, while salvia totally and suddenly warps your reality. I'm not suggesting that salvia isn't a worthwhile experience - it is - but to report that people are using it as an alternative to marijuana is simply false in my opinion.
Teenagers are naturally at greater risk for these things. This doesn't mean the drug should become illegal for everyone. This article will only cause irrational fear and paranoia in the parents and republicans that read it, leading to more silly drug laws. Bad parenting skills should be illegal, rather than the drugs I may wish to enjoy responsibly at some point during MY life as a free, conscious being.
Wonder why God didn't invent humans so they didn't reproduce until they were ready for the responsibility of pregnancy, child rearing & child nutrition. I'd imagine there would be dangers since 20% of our society is now considered suffering from mental illness. I sure hope this includes those who demand Ritalin so they can do better in college & business and the bored ones who take antidepressants so they can be happier than normal.
My opinion is that the drugs psychiatrists pass out as a substitute for real therapy are the MOST DANGEROUS DRUGS on the market. Try read the side effects. Suicide & homocide. I think all of the "school shooters" were on or quitting or changing the dose of their antidepressants. I haven't heard of any salvia "incidents" and my nephew said it has been around for years. "Fox Alert".
The most unfortunate thing is that BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTLY LIED ABOUT THE (non)DANGERS OF CANNABIS, if there as a new dangerous drug, no one will listen.
Compare alcohol (cancer, violence, auto accidents, DEATHS, etc.) with CANNABIS (NO DEATHS, anti anxiety, pain killer, etc.) and wonder WHY the lies and illegal status?????? A. Alcohol lobby.
Even cannabis supporters are going to have to admit to the fact that some people get addicted to marijuana use in the same way that others get addicted to every other drug. Until that admission is made part of the pro-marijuana debate, those who oppose taking a second look at marijuana will be able to write supporters as "zealots" and nothing will be done. I've dealt with marijuana addicts personally and have read enough research to stop asking the question of whether marijuana addiction exists or not. If we are to have an intelligent, respectful, debate, we need to acknowledge reality and move forward.
That's my view anyway. And my goal in writing this was not at all to scare, so not surprisingly, I've been viewed by both sides as not strong enough (some think I am for drug use and others think I'm demonizing it)... That probably means I did something right.
The book 'Excitotoxins" will alert anyone to causes of seizures. MSG, sugar substitutes, etc.
- - Timothy Leary
http://www.erowid.org/plants/salvia/salvia.shtml
1. It only lasts about 10 minutes, and most users have very little desire or ability to walk around during that time, so there's not all that much physical trouble they can get in.
2. It's never become a popular drug for a reason. I know several regular users of marijuana and occasional users of hallucinogens who have experimented with salvia, but none of them have been interested in using it more than once or twice. It's just not as interesting as other hallucinogens (although because of that, I could see it potentially serving as a gateway for new users, I suppose), and it doesn't come with the same positivity and happiness that good marijuana does. Those interested in drug experimentation have been aware of salvia for a long time, and the lack of an explosion of use of this legal, relatively cheap substance speaks to the simple lack of interest.
3. The mental effect of a "bad trip" seems to come from extended introspection in a mental state where normal values and judgments are warped and the world makes sense under an entirely different logic. The scary thing about a bad LSD experience is that it can go on for up to 8 hours or so with the mind withdrawn into itself for extended periods of unpleasantness, and nothing the user does or ingests will really stop it. Salvia wears off in ten minutes.
I could seen enjoying it, but there are plenty of other substances I enjoy more. Never been in a sensory deprivation tank...