2008 Woodie Awards
Legal psychedelic clarity: a look into the latest drug craze
Catherine Conley
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Opinions
To most I would be considered na've, at least when it comes to living on the edge, so to speak. I have very little experience with drugs and high-risk activities and I don't claim to be well-versed when it comes to these topics. So it was really no surprise that I was outside of the loop on the latest craze. Salvia divinorum, referred to simply as Salvia, is a legal hallucinogenic drug that appeared for the first time in western literature in 1939. It has recently gained more popularity and at the same time raised quite a few eyebrows. I decided that even though I don't participate, it couldn't hurt to learn a little about the drug culture and more particularly about Salvia.
Many who have used Salvia have found the experience to be terribly unpleasant. I talked to a friend who tried it and while he continues to use mushrooms and even cocaine, he swore he'd never touch Salvia again. I also read a user account of a Salvia trip online. The man said he felt a terrible panic as he spiraled down into a bottomless black hole and had the strongest sensation that he was dying. Like all drugs, the experience is dependant on how much of it you use and the way that you use it. Smoking leaves produces a milder effect while chewing the leaves or swallowing the extract can be loads more intense. Fear, panic, and an inability to control muscles are only a few of the possible side effects. If smoked, it can also cause soreness of the throat and chest. So why, if it's so terrible, do people continue to use it?
Like many drugs, there is a perception of insight and clarity. Users often experience an increased appreciation for sensual and aesthetic sensations. In layman's terms, things look pretty and feel good. And of course, the dreamy, ridiculously creative reality that users of hallucinogens often wish to achieve is another side effect. I looked on several sites that housed other user accounts and there were pages of people who thought Salvia was wonderful. The drug also has a relatively short duration, which most users like because it allows them more control in their experience. The onset takes less than a minute and the effects last from 20 minutes to an hour. So, even if the effects are terrifying, they only last for a short time.
Many who have used Salvia have found the experience to be terribly unpleasant. I talked to a friend who tried it and while he continues to use mushrooms and even cocaine, he swore he'd never touch Salvia again. I also read a user account of a Salvia trip online. The man said he felt a terrible panic as he spiraled down into a bottomless black hole and had the strongest sensation that he was dying. Like all drugs, the experience is dependant on how much of it you use and the way that you use it. Smoking leaves produces a milder effect while chewing the leaves or swallowing the extract can be loads more intense. Fear, panic, and an inability to control muscles are only a few of the possible side effects. If smoked, it can also cause soreness of the throat and chest. So why, if it's so terrible, do people continue to use it?
Like many drugs, there is a perception of insight and clarity. Users often experience an increased appreciation for sensual and aesthetic sensations. In layman's terms, things look pretty and feel good. And of course, the dreamy, ridiculously creative reality that users of hallucinogens often wish to achieve is another side effect. I looked on several sites that housed other user accounts and there were pages of people who thought Salvia was wonderful. The drug also has a relatively short duration, which most users like because it allows them more control in their experience. The onset takes less than a minute and the effects last from 20 minutes to an hour. So, even if the effects are terrifying, they only last for a short time.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
John C. Hain
posted 10/16/07 @ 7:20 PM EST
"Smoking leaves produces a milder effect while chewing the leaves or swallowing the extract can be loads more intense."
This is completely false. Ingesting Salvia divinorum's main psychoactive ingredient, Salvinorin A, is far more potent when vaporized. (Continued…)
Drug Detox
posted 11/09/08 @ 9:04 PM EST
A great beginner article on a completely unknown to me drug. I work part time as an nurse in a drug rehabilitation center, and find I need to research about all the new drugs patients are coming in with an addiction to in order to help them better. (Continued…)
Catherine
posted 11/15/08 @ 1:18 AM EST
Another tid-bit...apparently the psycho-active ingredients in the plant can "go bad". That is, you are less likely to trip the longer you have the drug. (Continued…)
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