Regulating a novel drug: an evaluation of changes in use of Salvia divinorum in the first year of Florida's ban.
John Stogner, David N Khey, O Hayden Griffin, Bryan Lee Miller, John H Boman
International Journal of Drug Policy November 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.03.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed methods: three self-report surveys and qualitative interviews Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Young adults in Florida and law enforcement personnel from the state's most populated areas |
| Duration | Before and after July 1, 2008 |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Drug policy Substance regulation Drug legislation Prohibition Legal ban Drug control Anti-drug law Psychoactive plants Hallucinogens Emerging drugs Recreational drug use Substance use Drug consumption Illicit drug use Drug abuse Substance misuse Policy effectiveness Impact assessment Policy evaluation Regulatory success Outcome study Efficacy |
| Citations | 31 |
| Key findings | Classification of Salvia divinorum as a Schedule I drug in Florida was followed by a substantial reduction in past year and past month recreational use, though lifetime prevalence was largely unchanged. |
Abstract
A plant with dissociative and psychoactive properties began to attract the attention of the media and United States policymakers following a well-publicized suicide in 2006 and reports that the plant served as a 'legal high' and substitute for cannabis. As a result, Salvia divinorum and its active ingredient, salvinorin A, were classified as Schedule I substances by the Florida Legislature on July 1, 2008. As of yet, no research has explored the efficacy of this policy or similar policies in other jurisdictions. Three self-report studies collected from young adults both prior to and following the policy's implementation are employed to investigate the potential relationship between the policy and usage rates. In addition, law enforcement personnel from the state's most populated areas were interviewed to determine the extent to which they were encountering salvia in their work. It was indicated that less than two-thirds of those surveyed were aware of the drug's legal status. Lifetime prevalence of salvia use was largely unchanged. However, the rates of self-reported past year and past month use in Florida were significantly lower following the scheduling. Though use of Salvia divinorum appears to have decreased, perceptions of peer use increased markedly. Law enforcement officers and laboratories reported rarely, if ever, dealing with cases of salvia possession. Data suggests the classification of Salvia divinorum as a Schedule I drug was followed by a substantial reduction in recreational use. We caution that other factors may have influenced use, that the efficacy of scheduling novel substances is likely to vary by drug type, that such a reduction in reported use may only exist transiently until a sophisticated illicit market develops to replace the legitimate one, and that a state's success in regulating salvia may be related to their regulation of and enforcement of other drug prohibitions.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnopharmacology of ska María Pastora (Salvia divinorum, Epling and Játiva-M.). Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico | 1983 | Ethnographic and pharmacological review | |
| Legally tripping: a qualitative profile of Salvia divinorum use among young adults. Young adults who use Salvia divinorum | 2011 | Ethnographic study | |
| Novel use patterns of Salvia divinorum: unobtrusive observation using YouTube™. YouTube videos depicting Salvia divinorum use | 2011 | Qualitative and quantitative analysis of online videos | |
| Subjective effects of Salvia divinorum. Salvia users | 2007 | Qualitative study | n = 10 |
| Salvia divinorum: a psychopharmacological riddle and a mind-body prospect. Mazatec traditional practitioners and users of Salvia divinorum | 2013 | Ethnographic field research with multidisciplinary review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- "Quite a Profoundly Strange Experience": An Analysis of the Experiences of Salvia divinorum Users. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2016
- Slow Panic? The Regulation of Salvia Divinorum in Canada, 1991-2019 Deviant Behavior January 12, 2023
- Salvia divinorum: toxicological aspects and analysis in human biological specimens. Bioanalysis July 1, 2016
Cites 8
- Psychopharmacology of the hallucinogenic sage Salvia divinorum. Life Sciences December 22, 2005
- Increasing Use of “Ecstasy“ (MDMA) and other Hallucinogens on a College Campus Journal of American College Health May 1, 1994
- Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A: an update on pharmacology and analytical methodology. Planta Medica August 1, 2007
- College student use of Salvia divinorum. Drug and Alcohol Dependence April 1, 2008
- Legally high? Legal considerations of Salvia divinorum. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 1, 2008
and 3 more in the library