Use of nonprohibited hallucinogenic plants: increasing relevance for public health? A case report and literature review on the consumption of Salvia divinorum (Diviner's Sage).
R Bücheler, C H Gleiter, P Schwoerer, I Gaertner
Pharmacopsychiatry 2005 DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-837763 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A young man consuming Salvia divinorum |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Potent hallucinogens Health professionals Public health questions Substance use Growing appeal Young adults Depersonalization Shamanic rituals Legal availability Legally available online Online availability Legal status |
| Citations | 63 |
| Key findings | Salvia divinorum, a potent hallucinogen legally available online, induces intense depersonalization and warrants attention from health professionals when assessing young adults for substance use. |
Abstract
: We want to call attention to a mint plant, called diviner's sage ( Salvia divinorum), originally used in shamanic ceremonies of the Mazatec Indians of Mexico. On numerous websites of the internet, this ancient herbal drug and its extracts are offered as a legal means of widening individual awareness. Regarding its dose-response relationship, the active ingredient, salvinorin A, is one of the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogens. Laws on controlled substances, except for Finland, Denmark and Australia, do not prohibit cultivating, consuming or dealing with Salvia divinorum. Ingestion by smoking, vaporising or chewing, induces a short-lived inebriant state with intense, bizarre feelings of depersonalization. This article wants to be a signal for physicians or psychotherapists to take Salvia into consideration, when exploring young people for drug use. We report the individual perceptions of a young man consuming Salvia divinorum. We review the scarce scientific literature and consider relevant internet websites. We define open issues for further investigations and try to discuss why Salvia divinorum may be of interest for teenagers and young adults in Europe.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. General (review of novel psychoactive substances) | 2012 | Review | |
| Opioid receptors and legal highs:Salvia divinorumand Kratom | 2008 | Review | |
| Salvinorin A: the "magic mint" hallucinogen finds a molecular target in the kappa opioid receptor. | 2003 | Review | |
| Salvia divinorum and the unique diterpene hallucinogen, Salvinorin (divinorin) A. | 1994 | Review | |
| Drug models of schizophrenia. General (review of drug models of schizophrenia) | 2015 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 31
- Opioid receptors and legal highs:Salvia divinorumand Kratom Clinical Toxicology 2008
- Pattern of use and subjective effects of Salvia divinorum among recreational users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence November 8, 2006
- 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
- Kappa-opioid receptor-mediated effects of the plant-derived hallucinogen, salvinorin A, on inverted screen performance in the mouse. Behavioural Pharmacology December 1, 2005
- Salvinorin-A Induces Intense Dissociative Effects, Blocking External Sensory Perception and Modulating Interoception and Sense of Body Ownership in Humans The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology June 5, 2015
and 26 more in the library