Salvia Divinorum - Usage Trends

Usage Trends

Interest in Salvia divinorum has increased among people outside the native cultures that have traditionally used it for centuries. It was first brought to the United States by researchers and botanists during the mid-twentieth century. It was scarcely known outside these small, academic circles for several decades. Yet during the last several years of the twentieth century, information about Salvia divinorum began to be more widely spread.

Subsequently, interest in its use rose, in part because, as of 2005, it was not classified as an illegal substance. People from various walks of life have experimented with the plant for its possible herbal healing qualities, as a way to enhance meditation, and as a recreational hallucinogen used to get high.

Growers in Hawaii, California, and Mexico raise and sell Salvia divinorum. The leaves of the plant, both fresh and dried, are widely available for sale on the Internet. Other preparations made from the plant are also sold, including: 1) an extract of the leaves combined with alcohol and water; 2) an extra-strength leaf product fortified with an extract; and 3) a pure, crystallized form of salvinorin A, the active ingredient normally created for use in scientific experiments. A milligram of purified salvinorin A crystals might cost approximately $20, while an ounce of the leaves in their natural state sells for around $100.

Internet Sales

As of 2005, the use of Salvia divinorum was still relatively rare, yet it appeared to be increasing. A major reason for the rising interest in the use of this substance is the Internet, which has provided a means for people to learn about Salvia divinorum and also to obtain it. But despite the growing interest in this psychotropic plant, law enforcement agencies do not appear alarmed about its use.

There have been no reports of emergency room visits or other health problems associated with the plant. It is not considered a substance that is likely to be much abused. There are several reasons for this, including the unpleasant taste of the leaves and the length of time necessary to chew them in order to obtain a noticeable effect. Furthermore, Salvia divinorum does not produce the kind of sensations or behavioral changes that are likely to make it a so-called party drug. It does not make people less inhibited, or more sociable. Instead, it tends to cause users to become withdrawn and inwardly focused.

Effects are sometimes described as extremely strange, perhaps even profound, but not particularly enjoyable. For many who try it, the first time is also the last time they will ever want to use Salvia divinorum. Although the pure form of the active ingredient, salvinorin A, can be taken without experiencing the unpleasant taste, the effects have the same strange quality as when the natural leaves of the plant are used.

Hallucinogen History

Hallucinogens had their first wave of popularity in the United States during the 1960s, particularly on college campuses. At that time, LSD and other psychotropic drugs were hailed by some as a means to find happiness, creativity, and increased spiritual awareness. Users claimed to experience these feelings while under the influence of the drugs. However, many realized that simply taking a drug cannot produce lasting happiness or enlightenment.

Abusing hallucinogens caused many people to experience negative effects, including paranoia (abnormal feelings of suspicion and fear), accidental injury, depression, and loss of touch with reality. Almost all hallucinogens were made illegal and declared controlled substances during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Use of these drugs decreased sharply and reached the lowest levels of use during the mid-1980s.

Throughout the 1990s, however, hallucinogen use began to rise. In 2004, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported on its Web site that young adults and adolescents were regaining an interest in plants that could provide hallucinations or "mystical" experiences. In 2000, there were about 1 million users of hallucinogens in the United States. The number of new hallucinogen users among people age 12 to 25 doubled between 1990 and 1997, from 12 per 1,000 in 1990 to approximately 24 per 1,000 in 1997. These numbers dipped again, however, after the turn of the twenty-first century.

The "2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)," conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reported that overall hallucinogen use dropped from 4.7 million users in 2002 to 3.9 million users in 2003. The study showed that 1 percent of youths between the ages of 12 and 17 abused hallucinogens, with 0.8 percent of adults above the age of 26 abusing them.

Much of the interest in Salvia divinorum stems from the fact that, as of 2005, there are no legal consequences for growing or using it. Many people experiment with it in the hope of finding a legal alternative to smoking illegal marijuana. However, they may find its effects to be very different and unpredictable. If not for its legal stature, Salvia divinorum would probably draw little attention. This is, in part, because the taste of the leaves is extremely bitter, and many leaves must be chewed for a long time to achieve the desired effect. The hallucinations brought on by the herb are often very unpleasant, and many first-time users report that they would never want to repeat the experience.