They may be frightening, depending on how strong a dose of the drug someone takes. People with existing anxiety may be more prone to anxiety, paranoia, or panic attacks while using salvia. However, anyone can experience worries or anxiety while using this potent substance. Salvia grows primarily in the mountainous regions of Oaxaca, Mexico, and is used by the area’s indigenous people. However, it’s not entirely clear where the plant originated from or where it began growing.
- Once a person swallows it, the gastrointestinal (GI) system will deactivate salvinorin A.
- A research study using rats suggested salvia abuse may lead to memory issues, difficulties with learning new information, and other cognitive problems.
- When Mazatec Indians used salvia for their healing rituals, the plant provided an altered state of consciousness.
- People who abuse marijuana are the group most likely to also abuse salvia.
- Getting the right support can help people safely stop using salvia and move forward into a healthier future.
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Because research is limited, the list of possible side effects and risks is short. However, the possible issues are serious and worth consideration. If someone you know is using salvia, it’s important to approach them with compassion and understanding. Encouraging them to seek professional help, such as addiction therapy or counseling, can be a key step in the recovery process. Anecdotal information suggests you may chew the leaves like tobacco. Most people use a bong, a water pipe for smoking marijuana, to inhale crystalline salvia via a glass tube.
What is Salvia? Side Effects and Risks
Our Addiction Therapy Programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, whether they’re dealing with salvia addiction, alcohol abuse, or another substance. If you notice these signs in someone you care about, it’s important to seek help from a professional addiction treatment center in Boston to address the misuse before it leads to more serious consequences. The plant has a three-foot-tall shrub with enormous green leaves, square hollow stalks, and white blooms.
Anyone using salvia is in danger and should seek assistance right away. Zinnia Health is there to support and provide tools for recovery. Some other unique ways of ingesting this plant include vaporizing it with a vaporizer or bong. It can also be smoked like tobacco or marijuana and rolled into a cigarette. The extract is then dropped under the tongue or sublingual doses and absorbed through the tissue into the skin and then into the bloodstream.
Understanding the Side Effects and Dangers of Using Salvia
It has been used by indigenous peoples in Mexico for centuries as part of shamanic rituals, where it was believed to facilitate communication with spirits. The active compound in salvia is salvinorin A, a powerful hallucinogen that affects the brain’s kappa-opioid receptors, leading to profound alterations in perception and consciousness. Residential treatment centers provide 24/7 therapy for drug addiction and alcoholism. First, have a medical and psychological checkup, then engage with specialists to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses all your difficulties. Others wrap fresh or dried stems or leaves in tobacco sheets and smoke them gently.
Salvinorin A is one of the most potent natural psychoactive substances. There are around 960 species of plants in the mint family, genus Salvia. These herbaceous and woody plants can be found all over the world, but they are the most diverse in Central America and around the Mediterranean.
But chewing Salvinorin A extractions can produce hallucinations that last from one to two hours. When the substance is left in the mouth, the effects become stronger over time. Salvia is an herb that can produce hallucinogenic effects when ingested. While it is legal in some areas of the United States, this drug has the potential to cause severe, dangerous side effects.
- They may be frightening, depending on how strong a dose of the drug someone takes.
- In some places, salvia is a “legal high,” a recreational drug that does not fall under any of the government classifications of illegal drugs.
- Others have opted to regulate it as a drug of concern rather than a controlled substance, allowing its sale and use with certain restrictions, such as age limits.
If someone is experiencing severe hallucinations caused by salvia or other hallucinogens, medical attention may be needed. The individual should be placed in a safe, secure environment under direct supervision. Doctors may provide antidepressant therapy to those can salvia kill you dealing with depressive symptoms.
However, salvia can cause unpredictable and overwhelming short-term alterations in consciousness, including hallucinations and detachment from reality. It can also lead to physical harm, such as falls or injuries from losing coordination. Salvia use seems to be most prevalent among young adults and adolescents, perhaps due to the large web-based presence of the drug and its effects.
Salvia: A Hallucinogen with Serious Risks – What You Should Be Aware Of
While salvia is not illegal under federal law, more than 25 states have outlawed buying, selling or possessing the drug. States that have banned the herb include Delaware, Illinois, Missouri and North Dakota. Clinical tests have shown that salvia has a half-life of only about 60 minutes. This means that the drug’s subjective effects wear off in only a few minutes, and the body eliminates half of the drug in only an hour. Overdose is possible if Salvia is mixed with other substances like alcohol or stimulants. Combining these substances can amplify their effects on the central nervous system, leading to unexpected and intensified reactions.
Understanding the Side Effects and Risks of Salvia
However, the Drug Enforcement Administration has considered classifying salvia as a Schedule I drug alongside marijuana, LSD and heroin. Thus, while Salvia alone might not commonly cause overdose, its interaction with other substances raises the risk. The understanding of Salvia’s addictive potential is still evolving, and its unique impact on the brain necessitates further investigation. The plant has green leaves and can produce white or purple flowers under optimal conditions. Traditional use and its effects have made it a subject of interest both culturally and scientifically. Salvia, scientifically known as Salvia divinorum, is a perennial herb in the mint family, traditionally known for its psychoactive properties when consumed.
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However, people who use this potent herb frequently may develop a psychological dependence on it. This is another reason salvia is dangerous to young individuals who cannot obtain other illegal drugs to experiment with recreationally. This drug is very easy to get and can be used and ingested in many different ways. Salvia is an herb that grows like a shrub from about 1.5 to five feet tall.
This plant grows anywhere from one to five feet in height and has distinctive leaves. When this plant flowers, it has impressive white flowers with purple stamens. However, it is illegal in many states, and those who possess or use it and get caught will be arrested and prosecuted in court. Those who are under 18 will be processed through the juvenile court system.
Tom Prisinzano, a chemist at the University of Kansas, concludes that salvia is generally non-addictive since addiction alters mu-receptors. You may purchase salvia dry or fresh leaves, seeds, leaf extract, or cuttings. Salvia has been known to produce intense and short-lived psychological effects that can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Our holistic treatment programs include therapies, medical treatment, support, and mental health care to help you put substance abuse in your past.
Once the drug is ingested or smoked, it begins affecting the user within a few minutes to thirty minutes. If it’s smoked, the effects are much quicker than if the plant is chewed, drank, or used under the tongue. The results can vary depending on the potency of the plant or extract and how it’s used.