Salvia divinorum: exposures reported to a statewide poison control system over 10 years.
Rais Vohra, Andrew Seefeld, F Lee Cantrell, Richard F Clark
Journal of Emergency Medicine June 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2009.05.019 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Population | Exposures to Salvia divinorum reported to the California Poison Control System |
| Duration | 10 years |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Substance abuse Recreational abuse Intentional use Drug abuse Hallucinogen abuse Herb abuse Clinical toxicology Toxicity Clinical features Symptoms Complications Neurologic effects Cardiovascular effects Gastrointestinal effects Psychomotor disturbances Poison control Hallucinogenic herbs Specific hallucinogenic herb Emerging substance Psychoactive plants Herbal hallucinogens Polysubstance use Multiple substance use Drug interactions |
| Citations | 45 |
| Key findings | Intentional use of Salvia divinorum, alone or with other substances, causes neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects, and concomitant substance use is associated with high rates of complications and psychomotor disturbances. |
Abstract
Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic herb, has in recent years become popular among teenagers and young adults. Salvia is presently marketed as a "legal" alternative to other drugs of abuse, but little is known about the clinical toxicity of this substance. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and demographic features of this emerging substance of recreational abuse using data obtained from the records of a poison control center. We performed retrospective review of exposures to the herbal hallucinogen Salvia divinorum as reported to the California Poison Control System (CPCS) over the last 10 years. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compiled from the computerized records of the CPCS for the search terms "salvia" and "sage." There were 37 exposures to S. divinorum and 96 exposures to non-hallucinogenic Salvia species. Eighteen (49%) of the exposures were to S. divinorum alone. Intentional Salvia exposures resulted in a variety of neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. Notably, the use of concomitant substances of abuse was associated with a high rate of complications and psychomotor disturbances. Intentional use of S. divinorum, whether alone or in combination with alcoholic beverages and other drugs, causes neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. This poison-center-based review helps to characterize the clinical toxicity of S. divinorum, but more clinical and pharmacologic research is warranted for this rapidly emerging substance of abuse.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacokinetics of the potent hallucinogen, salvinorin A in primates parallels the rapid onset and short duration of effects in humans. Adult female baboons | 2008 | Observational cohort | n = 6 |
| Salvia divinorum: effects and use among YouTube users. YouTube video posters using salvia | 2010 | Observational study using video analysis | n = 34 |
| In vitro stability and metabolism of salvinorin A in rat plasma. Rat plasma | 2009 | Observational study | |
| Time course of pharmacokinetic and hormonal effects of inhaled high-dose salvinorin A in humans. Healthy adults | 2016 | Observational study | n = 6 |
| A Content Analysis of Salvia Divinorum Use on YouTube Users who posted videos of themselves using Salvia divinorum on YouTube | 2013 | Observational study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 23
- Here today, gone tomorrow…and back again? A review of herbal marijuana alternatives (K2, Spice), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), kratom, Salvia divinorum, methoxetamine, and piperazines. Journal of Medical Toxicology March 1, 2012
- "Legal highs" on the net-Evaluation of UK-based Websites, products and product information. Forensic Science International March 20, 2011
- Human psychopharmacology and dose-effects of salvinorin A, a kappa opioid agonist hallucinogen present in the plant Salvia divinorum. Drug and Alcohol Dependence May 1, 2011
- Dose-related behavioral, subjective, endocrine, and psychophysiological effects of the κ opioid agonist Salvinorin A in humans. Biological Psychiatry November 15, 2012
- Neurochemical models of near-death experiences: A large-scale study based on the semantic similarity of written reports. Consciousness and Cognition March 1, 2019
and 18 more in the library
Cites 10
- Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences September 3, 2002
- Ethnopharmacology of ska María Pastora (Salvia divinorum, Epling and Játiva-M.). Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 1, 1983
- Salvia divinorum and the unique diterpene hallucinogen, Salvinorin (divinorin) A. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 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
and 5 more in the library