Internet access to Salvia divinorum: implications for policy, prevention, and treatment.
Valerie Hoover, Douglas B. Marlowe, Nicholas S Patapis, David S Festinger, Robert F Forman
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment July 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2007.07.011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional content analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Websites selling or promoting Salvia divinorum |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Hallucinogenic plant Psychoactive herb Legal hallucinogen Online drug promotion Internet drug sales Online drug advocacy Digital drug marketing Web drug advertising E-commerce drugs Drug website content Online drug availability Drug misinformation Misleading drug claims False drug information Drug health myths Scientific misinterpretation Health misinformation Drug safety claims Drug policy Substance policy Drug regulation Public health policy Prevention strategies Treatment needs Drug control |
| Citations | 38 |
| Key findings | 58% of websites offered Salvia divinorum for sale or linked to sellers, and 78% advocated for its use, often with erroneous claims about safety. |
Abstract
This study determined the degree to which Salvia divinorum, a potent hallucinogenic drug that is legal in most U.S. jurisdictions, is being proffered for sale over the Internet and how it is being characterized on popular Web sites. Search results revealed that between one half and two thirds (58%) of the Web sites either offered to sell S. divinorum or linked to other Web sites offering to sell the drug and that more than three quarters (78%) of the Web sites advocated for its use. Many of the statements issued on the Web sites were erroneous or falsely interpreted the absence of scientific data on the possible side effects of S. divinorum as evidence that no side effect exists. The portrayal and availability of S. divinorum on the Internet are similar to those of other illicit and prescription drugs of abuse. However, much less is known about the short- and long-term effects of this novel drug. Consequently, there is little basis to contradict the many Web sites that encourage its use. Implications for drug policy, prevention, and treatment are discussed.