Overview
Salvia Divinorum is a plant that contains the psychoactive chemical Salvinorin A and although it resembles marijuana, its effects are much closer to LSD or Peyote. It can be bought in a variety of strengths and grades ranging from 5[x] to 160[x] (most potent). Like other hallucinogenic plants, Salvia has been used in religious ceremonies and for spiritual rituals for centuries. In recent history, Salvia’s popularity has grown immensely due to social media sites like YouTube. Although Salvia is most commonly smoked out of a pipe or bong, it can also be chewed, smoked in a vaporizer, or even mixed in a drink. One of the main qualities that set Salvia apart from other commonly used hallucinogens is the fact that it is sold legally, provided the consumer is 18 years or older. Also, Salvia’s intoxication period is uniquely short. Including both the peak and the comedown, Salvia’s effects only last for approximately twenty minutes. However, it would be a mistake to assume that Salvia is safe based solely on it’s legal status as well as it’s short-lived high. In truth, any powerful substance like Salvia can always be dangerous both physically and psychologically.
Physical Dangers-
Some of the physical effects associated with Salvia include physical hypersensitivity, loss of motor coordination, dizziness, and nausea. Also, there have been reports of Salvia elevating user’s blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate, all of which could be expected when considering some of Salvia’s frightening psychological effects.
Psychological Effects-
The psychological side effects include hallucinations, psychosis, anxiety, panic, memory loss, and sometimes a complete loss of contact with reality. When someone completely loses contact with reality, the possibilities for bad things to happen virtually becomes endless. Combine this with the feeling of shear panic and you’re dealing with not only a dangerous situation, but potentially a dangerous person.
Mental disorder
A person with Borderline Personality Disorder might become even more unstable when under the influence of Salvia. Many people suffering from clinical depression the salvia expand her depression, for others it could make a pre-existing depression acutely worse.
Pure salvia
The biggest danger of Salvia Divinorum is long-term brain damage, when pure Salvinorin is been used. Salvinorin has some phenomenological similarities to dissociative such as ketamine and PCP, and these dissociative can cause brain damage called Olney’s Lesions when taken in at high doses
Psychoactive effect is produced. There are many methods of taking Salvia with varying durations of hallucinogenic effects.
Warning Signs-
When it comes to questionable/suspicious behavior, doing a little research is always a good way to get started and narrow down the search of exactly what to look for. Although behavior can vary rapidly, depending on the grade and quantity used, it’s still fairly obvious when someone has used Salvia. Falling over and blacking out are usually good indicators that something is going on, both of which are common symptoms of higher grades of Salvia. Uncontrollable laughter, difficulty concentrating, and disorganized/fragmented speech or thoughts are also good signs that Salvia was used. Salvia leaves a fairly distinct smell when smoked, almost like a mint or menthol.