Miley Cyrus Caught Smoking Salvia from a Bong in Video

Miley Cyrus appears to be throwing caution to the wind and saying bye-bye to young fans as she appears to be rushing headlong into the very thing Lindsay Lohan is currently trying to overcome: A life of drugs and alcohol.

Controversy has plagued Cyrus whose latest escapades include drinking while in Spain. Now, a new video has been released showing the singer/actress smoking salvia from a bong.

What was she thinking? One thing seems to be clear, she was certainly not thinking about the millions of young fans who have looked up to her since her days as Disney's Hannah Montana.

See the Miley Cyrus Bong Video at TMZ.

So, What is Salvia?

Salvia is a Mexican herb that grows in the Mazatec region of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Ozxaca, Mexico. It is used for its psychoactive effects, and is also known for its hallucinogenic effects. It produces a state of divine inebriation when smoked.

Mazatec healers and prophets traditionally use salvia divinorum. It contains a chemical substance called Salvinorin A that is responsible for the plants mind-altering effects.

According to the DEA website, Salvia Divinorum is a perennial herb in the mint family and is similar to the sage plant.

Young adults and adolescents have rediscovered the ethnobotanical plants "that can induce changes in perception, hallucinations, or other psychologically-induced changes."

The drug causes "psychic effects" that "include perceptions of bright lights, vivid colors and shapes, as well as body movements and body or object distortions."

Salvia can also cause "uncontrolled laughter and overlapping realities. Negative physical effects may include incoordination, dizziness, and slurred speech."

Salvia Divinorum is the only vision-inducing species of Salvia. Its active ingredients are not specifically listed in the Controlled Substance Act and are legal in California. It can be purchased from some online companies that target young adults and adolescents.

When smoked, Salvia Divinorum causes an induction of mystical or hallucinogenic experiences. It is most effective when inhaled or vaporized. A dose of 200 to 500 micrograms can cause profound hallucinations. Most people cannot handle dosages above 1 mg.

Salvia Divinorum Faq's states there are six levels of Salvia intoxication, which, ironically, spells out SALVIA:

Level 1 - Subtle effects
Level 2 - Altered perception
Level 3 - Light visionary state
Level 4 - Vivid visionary state
Level 5 - Immaterial existence
Level 6 - Amnesiac effects

Salvia divinorum is classified as a controlled substance in 12 U.S. states including Deleware, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Virginia.

Update:

Billy Ray Cyrus said in a post on his Twitter account Friday, "Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. Im so sad. There is much beyond my control right now."

Sources:
Miley Cyrus Bong VIDEO -- Partying with a Bong|TMZ.com
News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, Newark Intelligence Bulletin, Salvia Divinorum
Salvia Divinorum Faq's Basics
Billy Ray Cyrus (billyraycyrus) on Twitter