Author: Gary Jackson

Study of Controversial Hallucinogen Salvia Shows Intense and Novel Effects in Humans 12 07 2010

Because research is limited, the list of possible side effects and risks is short. However, the possible issues are serious and worth consideration. Since it is not clear if Salvia is addictive, one can only discuss the short- and long-term effects of S. S. Divinorum is a classic hallucinogen and may cause users to feel non-existent sensations, hear non-existent sounds, and see non-existent images. Divinorum is a common and popular plant that mainly grows in the Tropical Montane Cloud Forests in the Sierra Mazateca of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Salvia has been used in religious rituals in Central America for centuries, but the substance is now being abused for nonmedical and non-religious reasons by adolescents and young adults. While the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is very concerned about distribution and consumption of this potentially dangerous drug, salvia is not currently regulated according to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Salvia has potentially damaging effects that can last a lifetime. If you or a loved one struggles to taper use, or finds they need more to cope, there is help available.

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Its hallucinogenic properties, however, have made the substance popular in current times as a recreational drug. Its intense psychedelic effects make it appealing to both adolescents and young adults, and many of them use the drug as an alternative to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), a classical hallucinogen. A professor from the University of Iowa that specialized in the chemistry of medicinal and natural products also says that Salvinorin A modulates said receptors, meaning that it has the potential of treating stimulant abuse. When taken recreationally, a component of salvia called Salvinorin A activates kappa-opioid receptors. These receptors are also activated when opioids are taken and are responsible for dissociative effects with both substances. Salvia use can result in hallucinations, visual disturbances and dizziness.

However, people do not know what the long-term effects of salvia use might be. For this reason, it is not appropriate to consider it a safe drug. Salvia’s active ingredient is salvinorin A, a kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist. Today, many states have laws on the books that outlaw buying, possessing, or selling salvia. Some states have age restrictions, and some states outlaw salvia extracts but not the plant. Another small handful of states have decriminalized salvia possession, so you won’t be arrested if you’re found with the plant or extracts.

Is salvia safe to ingest?

If people combine salvia with other chemicals like alcohol or Stimulants, there is a higher risk of complication and even overdose. Salvia is a plant with powerful Hallucinogenic properties that is commonly recreationally abused and can cause dangerous side effects. These effects may occur rapidly, within just 5 to 10 minutes of smoking or inhaling the drug. It’s thought that this ingredient attaches to the nerve cells in your body to create a variety of hallucinogenic effects. The herb usually isn’t used in rolled cigarettes, or joints, because the dried leaves may not be potent enough to create any effect. Despite these strong experiences, heart rate and blood pressure were unaffected.

• If you or a loved one struggles to taper use, or finds they need more to cope, there is help available.
• Widespread salvia use is relatively new, and, as a result, there is limited information on the duration of its high, which can be variable.
• Yes, salvia use is considered safe, but it hasn’t been extensively studied.
• We have inpatient and outpatient facilities nearby and across the country ready to help.

In addition to its spiritual uses, the drug is also used recreationally to achieve hallucinations. Some have compared its effects to that of LSD due to Salvia’s active ingredient, salvinorin A, which provides hallucinogenic effects comparable to the kind LSD produces. Salvia is considered a Schedule I controlled substance in many states, meaning it has a high potential abuse and no legitimate medical purpose, although it’s legal in some jurisdictions. S. Divinorum, as a drug, is a hallucinogenic plant that produces a wide range of psychedelic effects.

Long-term Effects of Salvia

Taking salvia may instead be a symptom of a larger polydrug abuse problem. People who abuse marijuana are the group most likely to also abuse salvia. Since it is not fully known if a person can develop salvia addiction, it is also not known if this particular substance causes any withdrawal symptoms. While some research has been done on hallucinogens like salvia, there is much more that needs to be explored to determine if someone who misuses salvia can develop withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use.

• These are absorbed through the oral mucosa, creating visual hallucinations and altered states of cognition that last from 1 to 2 hours.
• People who use salvia report a high feeling similar to other hallucinogens, like mescaline or LSD.
• If The Recovery Village is not the right fit for you or your loved one, we will help refer you to a facility that is.
• For example, smoking salvia typically lasts 15–20 minutes, while placing drops under the tongue can last for up to two hours.
• Because of Salvia’s potent side effects it’s been deemed dangerous, resulting in its illegal status in many states.
• Wisconsin prohibits the selling and manufacturing of Salvia, which is punishable by up to $10,000 in fees.

Drug tolerances occur gradually and often transition into substance use disorders. Join the thousands of people that have called a treatment provider for rehab information. If you are curious about salvia, be sure to understand your state’s laws before you seek it out.

In fact, Salvinorin A that is responsible for notorious mind-altering effects has been deemed the most potent of all naturally occurring hallucinogens. Divinorum to be a “drug of concern” and has been monitoring reports of Salvia abuse – assessing whether it should be declared as a controlled substance due to its potential for abuse. Even with this, though, it is not currently regulated by the federal government and is not listed under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The substance itself and its active component, however, are controlled to some degree by 37 states in the United States (as per 2010 data).

• Even with this, though, it is not currently regulated by the federal government and is not listed under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
• There, it has been used in traditional ceremonies by the Mazatec Indians for centuries.
• People usually experience the most intense effects within 2 minutes after smoking.
• 8 years of nursing experience in wide variety of behavioral and addition settings that include adult inpatient and outpatient mental health services with substance use disorders, and geriatric long-term care and hospice care.