The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director’s report of February 2003 listed Salvia divinorum, whose main active ingredient is Salvinorin A, in its research findings as a hallucinogenic plant extract in the sage/mint family that has been used in traditional spiritual practices for its psychoactive properties by the Mazatecs of Oaxaca, Mexico. More recently, Salvia divinorum extracts and Salvinorin A have become more widely used in the U.S. as legal hallucinogens. Salvinorin represents the first naturally occurring nonnitrogenous opioid-receptor subtype-selective agonist. The use of this agent may cause perceptual distortions and may play a prominent role the modulation of human perception.

Salvia is an ornamental plant grown throughout the U.S.  Recent information indicates the use of this plant to manufacture a legal herbal supplement. This agent may be purchased at health stores or online.

Use: The dry Salvia leaves may be smoked to obtain maximum effect. A concentrated preparation of Salvia leaves, called Salvia extract, may be smoked in place of natural strength leaves. This process reduces the amount of smoke inhaled for a given dosage of Salvinorin overall and facilitates more powerful experiences. The plant leaves may be ingested with emphasis placed on holding the leaves in the mouth as long as possible to facilitate absorption. This method consumes more of the plant than smoking and also produces a longer-lasting experience.

Effect: If Salvia is smoked the main effects are experienced quickly. The most intense peak is reached within a minute and lasts for about 5 minutes followed by a gradual tapering back. At 10 minutes, less intense effects typically persist, but giving way to a returning sense of the more everyday and familiar until back to recognizable baseline after about 20 minutes. Chewing the leaf makes the effects come on more slowly; the experience then lasts for about 40-50 minutes.

Experience: Users state that the use of Salvia causes a psychedelic experience not conducive to socializing. External stimuli may be distracting, and moving around in an altered state of consciousness can be dangerous. Signs of use in lower doses can be spontaneous laughter, closed-eye visual effects and changes in depth perception. Moderate doses appear trance-like, and many people experience sensations of falling. At high doses, out-of-body experiences, vertigo, hearing voices, and loss of speech may occur.

After effects: Short-term effects after the main intoxication, as identified by a survey of 500 Salvia users, include increased insight, improved mood, calmness, weird thoughts, floating feeling, increased sweating, lightheadness and mind racing. Long-term effects as identified by users include antidepressant-like mood improvements, lasting 24 hours or longer. Most users report no hangover or negative after-effects the next day. Limited research to date has found that salvia is not physically or psychologically addictive.

U.S. legislation: The DEA is evaluating the plant for possible scheduling. In 2005, Louisiana made Salvia illegal if sold for human consumption, and Missouri made Salvia a Schedule 1 controlled substance. In 2006, Illinois and Delaware followed suit, and New York is considering a bill that would place heavy civil penalties on the sale of the plant.

Job Corps Action

1. Provide centers with information regarding this substance on the Job Corps Health and Wellness website.
2. Discuss Salvia use on all future TEAP specialist and center mental health consultant teleconferences.
3. Recommend that centers continue to inspect luggage/packages of students returning to center.
4. Recommend that all centers inspect packages that arrive in the mail with the receiving student.
5. Provide information about identification of the Salvia plant, and remove any plants presently grown on Job Corps property.