What is Salvia divinorum?

History of Use

Salvia divinorum was first used by indigenous peoples in the mountains of southern Mexico for religious purposes. To the Mazatec people, its use allowed transcendence and communion with higher powers. In the 2000s, Salvia became the most commonly used hallucinogen in the United States, although not for spiritual reasons. Its increased use has been linked to the availability of information about it on the Internet, to the belief that it is fairly safe, to its legality in many parts of the world, to its potent and short-lived hallucinogenic effects, and to its being undetectable in routine drug tests.

Effects and Potential Risks

Salvia’s psychoactive component, salvinorin A, selectively activates a specific type of opioid receptor, the kappa-opioid receptors (KOR). These are found in several areas of the central nervous system, including the hypothalamus, the claustrum, the central gray matter of the midbrain, and the spinal cord. A few minutes after stimulation, KORs cause vivid dissociative effects, including depersonalization and sensory confusion. Additionally, KOR stimulation decreases one’s sensation of pain and increases urination and perspiration. The effects of smoked Salvia typically last fewer than thirty minutes. If chewed, the effects can persist for about one hour.

There does not appear to be significant risk of addiction with Salvia. Salvinorin A has no affinity for the mu (µ) opioid receptors, which are stimulated by substances such as heroin and morphine and have been implicated in the reward system that drives addiction.

Although nonaddictive, Salvia is not harmless. Its vivid hallucinogenic effects can be unpleasant and can produce heightened anxiety or panic. Other negative symptoms include paranoia, thought blocking, and mental slowing. Moreover, because it is a non-water-soluble compound, the long-term effects of salvinorin A are unpredictable.

Bibliography

Babu, Kavita, Christopher R. McCurdy, and Edward Boyer. “Opioid Receptors and Legal Highs: Salvia divinorum and Kratom.” Clinical Toxicology 46 (2008): 146–52. Print. Describes the psychoactive effects of Salvia and its increasing popularity as a recreational drug.

Brown, David Jay. “Salvia on Schedule.” Scientific American 301.2 (2009): 20–21. Print. Reviews the debate surrounding the regulation of saliva and discusses the potential effects of criminalizing the drug on research efforts studying the drug’s medicinal properties.

Mysels, David. “The Kappa-Opiate Receptor Impacts the Pathophysiology and Behavior of Substance Use.” American Journal on Addictions 18 (2009): 272-76. Print. Reviews research on the kappa-opiate receptor and its role in substance abuse and addiction.

Sanders, Laura. “Lab Study Probes Psychoactive Drug.” Science News 179.2 (2011): 15. Print. Describes the psychopharmacological effects of Salvia.