Subjective Effects and Characteristics of Salvia Divinorum Use from a Retrospective Largescale Survey
Spencer W. Wheeler, Jonathan Dinsmore, Natalie L. Dyer
June 26, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/n9gfq_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 321 |
| Population | Adults recruited online through forums and mailing lists who had used Salvia divinorum |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Checklist Salvia officinalis Rating scale Exploratory research Exploratory factor analysis Traditional medicine |
| Key findings | The Salvia Experience Checklist scores correlated with the Hallucinogen Rating Scale and with extract potency and smoking method, supporting the SEC's validity for characterizing salvia's subjective effects. |
Abstract
Salvia divinorum (salvia) is a powerful, unique psychedelic, with its psychoactive compound salvinorin A acting as a kappa opioid receptor agonist. The purpose of this study was to investigate the subjective effects of salvia in a large sample and to gather early data regarding the validity of the salvia experience checklist (SEC). Four hundred participants were recruited online through forums and mailing lists. Participants answered questionnaires related to their salvia use history and their most recent salvia experience, including type and strength of extract, administration method, and inhalation time. They then rated their most recent salvia experience using the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) and the SEC, a 58-item list of experiences common to salvia. Participants provided a report of their most recent salvia experience for mixed-methods analysis of salvia phenomenology. A total of 321 participants completed the survey. The mean number of items selected on the SEC was 16.5 (SD = 10.5) and the total HRS score was 186.36 (SD = 40.48). Scores on all subscales of the HRS were significantly correlated with scores on the SEC. Tetrachoric exploratory factor analysis of the SEC resulted in 10 factors along with several indicators of adequate model fit. Manifest content analysis yielded 16 major themes. SEC scores were positively correlated with salvia extract potency and smoking as administration method. The results of this study contribute to further characterizing the unique phenomenology of salvia and advancing development of the SEC, though more work is needed, including with prospective samples.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Salvia Experience Checklist scores correlated with Hallucinogen Rating Scale scores and with extract potency and smoking method, supporting the checklist's validity for characterizing subjective effects.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern of use and subjective effects of Salvia divinorum among recreational users. Recreational users of salvia and other psychedelics | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 32 |
| College student use of Salvia divinorum. College students at a large public university in the southwestern U.S. | 2008 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 1,516 |
| Use patterns and self-reported effects of Salvia divinorum: an internet-based survey. Individuals who had used Salvia divinorum and visited related pages of a... | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 500 |
| Salvia Divinorum Use among a College Student Sample Students at a large public university | 2008 | Survey | |
| Recent national trends in Salvia divinorum use and substance-use disorders among recent and former Salvia divinorum users compared with nonusers. Noninstitutionalized US residents aged 12 or older | 2011 | Cross-sectional survey analysis | n = 166,453 |