Salvia Divinorum: the next Lsd? - By Corina Campbell

“The purpose of these sacraments is to purify, and to open the road. When it opens it’s as clear as the blue sky, and the stars at night are as bright as suns.” Think this is a quote from the flower generation talking about acid? You’re wrong. This quote is in reference to a new drug on the scene – salvia divinorum, and unlike weed, use of it is allowed to run rampant (google salvia divinorum for sale and you will have 110,000 results at your fingertips in 0.23 seconds flat.) So what exactly is this salvia divinorum and why are people touting it so boldly for the entire world to see?
Salvia divinorum, also known as Diviner’s Sage, Magic Mint, or simply salvia, is an herb grown in Oaxaca, Mexico. Its active ingredient is salvinorin A. Salvia is used by the Mazatec Indians in Mexico as a key component of shamanism, a religious practice centered on communication with the spirit world, but the exact origin of the plant is still unknown. Since it is only found in one specific area, it is either native to that area or was grown in the area by the Mazatec or another group. Its documented history dates back to 1939 when the anthropologist Jean B. Johnson observed its use among the Mazatec and got first-hand accounts of its effects.
Like marijuana, cocaine, and LSD, salvia is a psychoactive drug and as such creates a marked change in mood, manner, and consciousness in the user. According to author D.M. Turner, immediate effects of salvia include spontaneous laughter, past memories coming to life, and the sensation of being in two places at once. Other reported reactions include a warm sensation, increased sweating, and a better mood during and after use.
It’s the long-term effects, however, that have people really concerned. What are they? Well, that is the problem; we have no idea what they really are. Studies have been performed by various groups and the results run the gamut of typical drug analyses. Advocates claim that salvia may serve a medical use as antidepressants, and treatment for Alzheimer’s, cocaine addiction, chronic pain, and schizophrenia. Spiritually-minded supporters say it enables a full exploration of the human mind and consciousness. (The phrase “Turn on, tune in, and drop out” comes to mind. If you’ve never heard of it, hit the google task bar; it has an interesting history.) Opponents point to the growing number of teens taking salvia divinorum everyday without knowing its long-term effects. Their proof? The thirteen pages of videos on Youtube of teens documenting their “salvia trips,” some first time users and some already doing large doses.
The idea of the drug is distinctly intoxicating for the Me Generation. It’s cheap, it’s readily available, it feels good, and – here is the whopper – it’s 100% legal. You don’t risk the loss of scholarship opportunities or arrest if you’re caught with a little Magic Mint. You’re not going to be kept out of college for taking a hit of “diviner’s sage.” But here is a thought before you pull out that bong and get down to business: there was a time when heroin was “completely legal” as well, and we all know how that turned out. For all the people saying to themselves, “Well, people say it can treat depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s,” just remember that at one time LSD was considered the be all and end all of psychiatric treatment, and when the truth finally came out, its legality was overturned, and the 40,000 people prescribed with LSD had created three problems out of one: an addiction to LSD, the risk of incarceration if they could not break that addiction, and finding a new way to cope with the mental problem that got them there in the first place. Kind of takes the edge off, doesn’t it? Weigh the risks.