Pubdate: Fri, 11 Apr 2008
Source: Simi Valley Acorn (CA)
Copyright: 2008 J.Bee Publications
Contact:  http://www.simivalleyacorn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3727
Author: Andrea L. Minium
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens)

PARENTS WARNED OF NEW, LEGAL HALLUCINOGENIC DRUG

Salvia, a relative of flowering sages, is considered by  experts to be
the most powerful natural hallucinogenic,  almost as potent as LSD.

A hallucinogenic herb called Salvia divinorum is  growing in
popularity among teens and young adults  across the U.S.

Local law enforcement officials said they're aware of  the drug and
plan to monitor its sale and use among  teens, but they can do little
to stop local smoke shops  from selling the herb, which is legal in
most states,  including California.

Sgt. Mike Horne, a detective with the Ventura County  Sheriff's
Department's narcotics bureau, said the use  of Salvia divinorum isn't
a problem locally, but it may  be targeted by police if it becomes
one.

Salvia, a relative of flowering sages, is considered by  experts to be
the most powerful natural hallucinogenic,  almost as potent as LSD.

Salvia divinorum is a small leafy plant discovered by  anthropologists
in Mexico in the 1930s. Also referred  to as "diviner's sage," the
plant is traditionally used  by the indigenous people of the Mazatec
region as a  healing and visionary aid due to its unique properties
when smoked or chewed.

A rise in the use of salvia in the U.S. was first seen  in the early
1990s with the underground psychedelic  culture. Its popularity
continues to grow.

The difference between Salvia divinorum and other types  of sage is
the presence of a substance called  salvinorin A, a naturally
occurring hallucinogenic.  Salvia and opiate drugs, such as morphine,
activate the  same receptors in the brain that cause dependence,
addiction and visionary effects. Salvinorin A doesn't  test positive
in drug tests for opiates or other  alkaloid drugs. Salvia divinorum
can be bought on the  Internet and in local tobacco and smoke shops.
Legal in  44 states, Salvia has been under scrutiny since the
much-publicized January 2006 suicide of Brett  Chidester, a 17year-old
Delaware resident. Chidester's  parents blame their son's death on the
drug, with his  suicide note describing his experience from his use of
  salvia. "How can I go on living after I learned the  secrets of
life?" Chidester wrote in his suicide note.  "It took me 17 years, but
I finally figured it out. I  can't tell you that here because that
kind of  information can cause chaos.! "

In response to the suicide, Brett's Law was enacted in  2007,
prohibiting the use of the drug in Delaware.

Salvia is also considered a controlled substance in  Louisiana,
Missouri, New Jersey, New York and  Tennessee.

Although controversial, the drug remains legal in most  of the country
because most lawmakers and law  enforcement officials know little
about the herb.

Users of the drug report headaches, bronchial  irritation, insomnia,
irritability, a sense of fear and  panic, increased perspiration, loss
of physical  coordination, visual alterations, loss of awareness and
an experience of multiple realities.

Research on salvia has found it causes depressive  symptoms in rats
and monkeys, as well as anxiety and a  feeling of restlessness.

Advocates for salvia believe the use of the herb should  be regulated,
not criminalized. Regardless, both sides  agree the herb causes
serious hallucinations.

People who've experimented with the drug experience  hallucinations
lasting anywhere from two minutes to an  hour. "When I took salvia, I
began laughing  uncontrollably, and then the next minute I was
panicked  and felt as if bugs were crawling on every inch of me,"
said Sean, an Orange County high school senior who  asked that his
last name not be used.

"I became hysterical trying to scratch the bugs off me  and ended up
hurting myself while my friends tried to  help keep me under control.
It was a scary, horrible  experience that I would never want to relive
or would I  recommend that anyone experience."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath