Salvia divinorum: An overview of the usage, misuse, and addiction processes.
Rathi Mahendran, Haikel A Lim, Joyce Y S Tan, Shi Min Chua, Munidasa Winslow
Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists March 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12225 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Salvia divinorum Addiction |
| Keywords | Novel psychoactive substance |
| Key findings | Salvinorin A can precipitate psychiatric symptoms and negatively affect cognition. |
Abstract
Salvia divinorum, a sage plant with leaves that can produce a psychoactive high, has been used for hundreds of years for its psycho-mimetic effects in religious rituals in South America. Salvia has now become popular mainly with adolescents and young adults for the short-lived relatively pleasant experiences many consider a "legal high" and its ready availability through Internet purchases. The main (psycho)active compound in salvia is Salvinorin A, a potent κ-opioid agonist and although the short and long-term effects have not been examined in sufficient detail, it is widely believed to have low addictive potential and low toxicity. Recent findings, however, seem to suggest that Salvinorin A can precipitate psychiatric symptoms and negatively affect cognition. Its ready availability and increasingly widespread use requires clinicians to have knowledge and awareness of its effects.