Parents, Should You Be Worried About Salvia?

Salvia use is reported to be skyrocketing. Its popularity amongst teens and young adults is well known. Along with salvias use a popular pastime that its young users seem to enjoy is the posting of YouTube videos of the smoking the plant and their reactions. The most famous of these is Miley Cyrus giggling and acting confused after doing a "hit" of salvia. Is salvia dangerous and addicting? Should parents be concerned? Let's take a quick look at what is known and being said about this current rage.

What is Salvia?

Salvia (Salvia Divinorum) is a member of the sage family. It is native to the mountainous area of Oaxaca, Mexico where it grows in moist, shady areas. It has been reported to be used by local shamans for centuries to help them achieve visionary states during healing ceremonies. Oaxaca locals also see the plant an incarnation of the Virgin Mary with religious rituals being tied to its use. Locals have also used it to treat diarrhea, as a diuretic and to treat rheumatism.

Prevalence of Salvia Use

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that amongst people 12 and up, there have been approximately 1.8 million of them that has tried salvia at least once. The figure for new users is anywhere between 750,000 to one million new users per year. SAMHSA also reports that young males are the most likely to become salvia users. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) puts the figure of salvia first time use by 8th, 10^th and 12^th graders at 5.7%, higher than even ecstasy use.

How Salvia is Used

Salvia can be used in many different ways. The shamans used to extract the juices from the leaves and make a tea to be ingested for their ceremonial rituals. Chewing a large number leaves was also a method used.

Today salvia is mainly smoked either through a water pipe or rolled up into a joint. A look through the internet sites selling salvia shows all kinds of mixtures and claims of strength. Some sellers of salvia also color code their product to denote varying potencies. There are also various names for the product such as "Lion's Tail" and "Warp Zone". Whatever the name used or claimed potency, the marketing of salvia online is just tremendous, Google it for yourself.

Is Salvia Safe?

People using salvia report a short lived, euphoric high usually lasting about 1 to 30 minutes. Changes in mood, emotional state, auditory and visual perception have been reported with salvia use. Its use has been described by users to be hallucinogenic, similar to the use of LSD or psilocybin mushrooms, the only difference being the effects are not as long term. While much seems to be known about salvias short term effects not much research has been done on chronic, long term use.

Parents, Should You be Worried?

This author and many medical experts think the answer is yes. Like adolescents and the use of many other drugs, salvia usage might only be a phase. Use can also be a warning sign of deeper problems. It is thought that salvia usage can be psychologically addicting. The use of salvia can lead to use and abuse of other drugs. It can be a sign of mental or emotional problems. A lot of users of substances do so for self medication purposes. The first thing you as a parent can do is arm yourself with good information. Follow the hyperlinks in this article or go to the resources listed at the end. Seek out a trusted school guidance counselor or ask your primary care physician for information. Sit down and talk with your child. You as a parent should be able to get a sense of whether this is a phase or a sign of deepening problems. If needed, don't be afraid of seeking outside help.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

NewScientist

Center For Substance Abuse Research

WebMD

Riverside/Mayo Clinic