Salvia Divinorum Appears in Teen Drug Treatment
The use of Salvia Divinorum by teens entering teen drug treatment centers is becoming more common. Salvia Divinorum is a potent hallucinogen. Its effects on teen drug abusers have been compared to LSD. Salvia is a member of the sage family, and is a powerful psychoactive drug. Salvia can be chewed but is most commonly smoked as it produces a stronger effect. When smoked its effects last from five to ten minutes. "This shorter high is attractive to a teen that is trying to get high between classes or while in their bedroom..." Says a teen drug treatment client. This is a much shorter time span than other hallucinogens, but the effect has been described as having the same intensity. The effects of salvia range from a mild sense of wellbeing to a full on psychedelic trip that can cause a complete disconnection between the user and reality.
The surprising fact about Salvia is that it is one hundred percent legal in every country except Australia. This includes all US states. Because Salvia is legal it is commonly sold in cigar shops, all natural stores, and over the Internet. Salvia is also fairly cheap.This makes Salvia extremely accessible to teenagers. Teenagers are able to walk into the smoke shop and purchase this strong psychedelic drug with no imposing consequences. Because of these factors Salvia is extremely appealing to teens that cannot legally buy alcohol or do drugs.
While it is impossible to overdose on Salvia there are still many dangers involved in using the drug. Most teenagers smoke Salvia with marijuana making the act illegal. Salvia has also been known to cause depression post use. This was most highly publicized in the case of Brett Chidester, a 17-year-old student from Delaware, who reportedly killed himself after using Salvia. Although these risks do exist there has been no legislation passed to make Salvia illegal. This makes a dangerous drug available to teenagers everywhere. Tt is expected that the cases of young people entering teen drug treatment will rise as long as this drug is so readily available to them.
Labels: salvia, salvia divinorum, teen-drug-treatment, teenagers
12 Comments:
Good article on the effect of Salvia on teens. However there was one glaring error. Salvia has been outlawed in many US states, and many more are following suit because of the death of Brett Chidester. Delaware is one of those states and passed "Brett's Law" 3 short months after Brett Chidester committed suicide while under the influence of Salvia.
Teenagers need to understand that their brains have not completely formed until they are approximately age 25. Salvia, the world's most potent natural hallucinogen, has the ability to change brain chemistry, especially in younger people. Stay away from it, it's totally not worth it. Don't screw up your life and lose everything you'd hoped and believed in. No more suicides from Salvia!
One teen suicide (The #3 leading cause of death among teens) does not deem Salvia divinorum a dangerous drug. There was a lot of controversy when the coroner changed the cause of death on the certificate to blame Salvia. It is probable that Brett Chidester’s depression and ultimate suicide could be attributed to his alcohol abuse, parent’s divorce and many other factors which are commonly considered the cause of such conditions.
Multiple scientific studies and user reports have indicated that Salvia divinorum most commonly demonstrates antidepressant effects on the user. These studies also show a significant potential in treating addiction of illegal and harmful substances. I do agree teens should NOT have access to Salvia divinorum. It should NOT be labeled a dangerous drug as it is not toxic, not addictive and no negative side effects have been scientifically proven. It should NOT be made illegal as it has a unique pharmacology with more potential to benefit mankind, then it has to harm it. Every effort should be made to maintain the legality of this plant and its constituents.
Some sources for my claims are listed below:
Hanes, Karl R. (Dec 2001), "Antidepressant Effects of the Herb Salvia Divinorum: A Case Report", Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Actually rather then listing them all here. I encourage readers to see the wikipedia.org entry on Salvia divinorum
Salvia is dangerous, yes. But I don't think the drug itself causes people to commit suicide. I believe it brings out pre-existing pyschological circumstances causing the brain to be triggered in a way.
It is definitely a danger to teens, but I think it is quite misunderstood.
Maybe adults should have the choice whether to use Salvia or not but I believe it is better for the adolescent brain to develop free of mind altering substances. Allowing them to turn eighteen and make educated decisions with a healthy mind is immperative.
There is more than one "glaring error" here. For one, Brett Chidster had was not under the influence of Salvia when he committed suicide, the link between his suicide and Salvia Divinorum are tenuous at best.
"The use of Salvia Divinorum by teens entering teen drug treatment centers is becoming more common. Salvia Divinorum is a potent hallucinogen." This, if true is not surprising, chances are the teens have depressive issues and are trying to use the Salvia as an antidepressant (http://www.sagewisdom.org/jclinpsych.html) . This is not the way to go with this of course as one should wait until one is fully grounded in this reality before he/she begins exploring others.
Salvia is illegal in several countries.
"Most teenagers smoke Salvia with marijuana making the act illegal." Smoking Salvia with Marijuana (a bad idea) does not make the act of smoking Salvia illegal. Just as smoking Marijuana and drinking Pepsi does not make the act of drinking Pepsi illegal.
In conclusion I do want to state that Salvia should NOT be sold to or consumed by minors. I am just trying to clear up some erroneous information. I am pro-salvia, but only for responsible adults.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=WHVHqCQH0_U
Got to youtube link above to watch a teenager on Salvia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=WHVHqCQH0_U
Got to youtube link above to watch a teenager on Salvia.
Reports that I have seen say that the DE teen, Brett Chidester was not suffering from depression until AFTER he had started smoking Salvia. He reportedly told his long time girlfriend that he felt Salvia was addictive and that he couldn't stop. 1 day before his death he told her that there was something wrong with him and he had no idea what it was. Even though he was purported to be an extremely intelligent kid he couldn't put 2 + 2 together and realize that his heavy salvia use was causing "what was wrong with him."
Fortunately the officials of De were able to add up the facts and realize that his salvia use was the main causatory factor in his death. Salvia was found with him when he died so it didn't take a rocket scientist to put "2 + 2" together after all the facts of his case were put together.
It certainly isn't surprising that now the teen treatment centers are now starting to see the effects on salvia on our adolescent population. It's so sad the salvia sellers who have posted here are worried about their bottom line and not the kids that will suffer from long range use.
Whats sad is when legislation is made based on hearsay and conjecture rather than factual information or scientific evidence.
I am not a salvia user or seller, but I do beleive that it should be available for use by responsible adults. I think that its sale should be regulated, much like that of cigerettes or alcohol.
This is a sacred herb that has been used for thousands of years by indiginous mexican cultures. It is has been safely used by them as a sacrament and medicine, and, to my knowledge, problems with "rampent salvia addiction" have never been an issue within these cultures. They have clearly displayed that it is something, that, when used in resonsible ways, is not damaging to the user or their communities. In my opinion that has a lot more factual wieght then the anecdotal reports of teenager claiming he "felt" that it was addictive. Especialy in light of how many anecdotal reports I have read in which the users claim that it "feels" anti-adictive.
The fact of the matter is that we need scientific research to prove what sort of effects this plant has on humans. Scientific research that has not been done and that will be prevented if the plant is made a Schedule I substace (as it has been in several US states). As mentioned previously, Salvia d. seems to have a great deal of potential in the fields of medicine and addiction treatment, and it would be a shame to lose those possibilities to knee-jerk legislation.
How many teens are in treatment for Salvia addiction right now?
Those opposed to Salvia would do themselves a lot better if they merely stopped misrepresenting easily verifiable facts. Like the case of Brett Chidester, which keeps changing every time it's told... Or the fact that one scientifically identified potential use of Salvia is for its anti-addictive properties.
Scaremongering is not the way. But maybe compromise is: Maine passed a law regulating use of Salvia to adults, 18+. If we're so concerned about "the kids", why not advocate regulation instead of prohibition?
Salvia divinorum is not addictive. If anyone uses it in an addictive manner. They are most likely addicted to perturbing their consciousness or to “escaping” reality. Thus making a safe, non-toxic, non-physically addictive Entheogen such as Salvia divinorum illegal. These people will just turn to other legal and easy to access dangerous substances such as paint or glue sniffing, prescription medications abuse, DXM cough syrup, binge drinking, computer duster / Inhalant Abuse, Poppy seed tea, etc. Or turn to illegal drugs which are far more dangerous and could lead to destructive and criminal lifestyles. regulation of Salvia instead of prohibition is really the best way to go.
Wow... Im 14 and i smoke salvia with my friends all the time, Yes it is a hallucigen. it is not that hard to walk into a gas station buy a big bag of it for 3 bucks and go light up?
no matter what they do even if they banned it like they banned marijuana it will be out there all the time. Ok let me explain this it would be easyer and healthier to keep it legal because you dont know what a drug dealer gonna put in it.. If you go to a store where it was grown naturally you dont have to worry about getting sick and dieing! folks just take this fact its always gonna be out there and you cants get rid of it like everything else.....
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