What Is Salvia Divinorum?

Salvia (salvia divinorum) is an herb common to southern Mexico and Central and South America. Historically, it has been used in traditional spiritual practices by the Mazatec people of Mexico.  The active ingredient in the salvia herb is Salvinorin A, a chemical that acts on certain receptors in the brain and causes hallucinations. Salvinorin A is one of the most potent, naturally occurring, hallucinogenic chemicals. Traditionally, Salvia has been ingested by chewing fresh leaves or by drinking their extracted juices. Recreationally, the dried leaves of Salvia can be smoked as a joint, consumed in water pipes or vaporized and inhaled. 

People who abuse salvia generally experience hallucinations or episodes that mimic psychosis. The effects have been described as intense, but short-lived, appearing in less than 1 minute and lasting less than 30 minutes. They include psychedelic-like changes in visual perception, mood and body sensations, emotional swings, feelings of detachment, and importantly, a highly modified perception of external reality and the self, leading to a decreased ability to interact with one's surroundings. This last effect has prompted concern about the dangers engaging in activities that require coordination or driving under the influence of salvinorin. 

 In 2009, the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) Monitoring the Future Survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders asked about Salvia abuse for the first time. They found 5.7 percent of high school seniors reported past year use (greater than the percent reporting ecstasy use). Although information about this drug is limited, recent salvia-related media reports and Internet traffic suggest the possibility that its abuse is increasing in the US and Europe. The increase is most likely driven by Salvia related videos on You Tube and information on Internet sites, as well as in the media especially with the recent picture of teen entertainer, Miley Cyrus, smoking Salvia at a party.

Although Salvia currently is not a drug regulated by the Controlled Substances Act, several states and countries have passed legislation to regulate its use. The Drug Enforcement Agency has listed salvia as a drug of concern and is considering classifying it as a Schedule I drug, like LSD or marijuana. 

Long terms effects of Salvia use have not been not been scientifically explored. Johns Hopkins researchers are believed to have conducted the first controlled human study of the effects of Salvinorin A. Johns Hopkins researchers report that the effects are surprisingly strong, brief, and intensely disorienting, but without apparent short-term adverse effects in healthy people. Since the research was done with four mentally and physically healthy hallucinogen-experienced volunteers in a safe medical environment, researchers say they are limited in their conclusions about the compound’s safety. Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author noted that while no adverse effects were noted in the controlled laboratory environment Johnson says, the drug’s effects could be disastrous if a person were, for example, driving a car while on Salvia. There has been much concern with the younger population’s use of Salvia since their brains are still developing and more susceptible to the use of chemical compounds. Salvia is not intended for use by adolescents and websites that promote Saliva use specifically mention that they will not sell the drug to minors. However without any real over sight many sites do nothing to enforce this rule.