Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies. This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information. If you or someone you know is impacted by salvia use, contact our team at 12 South Recovery.

Many more states have proposed regulations to make salvia illegal. Unfortunately, it is difficult to detect salvia misuse and abuse because it looks like an ordinary plant, has no odor, and is easy to grow. Rehabilitation and mental health support are essential for individuals struggling with Salvia use, particularly those experiencing psychological dependence or underlying mental health issues. Rehab centres provide structured treatment, including detox, behavioural therapies like CBT, and group support, helping individuals address triggers and build healthier coping mechanisms.

• Because research is limited, the list of possible side effects and risks is short.
• She also works with individuals facing self-esteem issues and anxiety using a trauma-informed approach.
• Morphine, heroin, and other narcotics work on mu, kappa, and delta opiate receptors.
• There are certainly concerns with using salvia, mostly due to the intense hallucinations that occur as a result of eating, drinking or smoking the herb.
• The intense, disorienting effects may exacerbate these conditions or lead to new psychological issues.

The repercussions of abusing these substances can lead to significant legal, financial, interpersonal, and health challenges. Salvia abuse might not be as widely known as other drugs, but can salvia kill you its consequences can be equally severe. The half-life of salvia is very rapid compared to other common drugs of abuse, such as prescription opioids or even marijuana. This can make salvia abuse difficult to detect using standard drug tests.

Substance use disorder and withdrawal

The active ingredient, salvinorin A, attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain. Acting at the KOR, or kappa opiate receptor site, the compound alters the user’s ability to perceive reality. People may find the herb appealing because of the hallucinations it produces. Mind-altering chemicals like salvia and LSD may cause psychological dependence, in which drug-induced moods become more attractive than daily life, and users can’t quit using. Drugs may help someone avoid personal troubles or address untreated psychological illnesses.

Signs Of Salvia Dependence

They can provide helpful details on facilities and treatments to help those battling a salvia dependency. In some places, salvia is a “legal high,” a recreational drug that does not fall under any of the government classifications of illegal drugs. There are concerns that salvia may affect a person’s thinking, choices, and mental health. The effects were comparable to other hallucinogens but short-lived. The drug’s dosage and strength vary from person to person, and the period may vary depending on the quantity consumed.

• Unlike many other psychedelics, Salvia affects the brain through kappa opioid receptors, creating unique and often disorienting experiences.
• While some states have outlawed selling, buying or possessing salvia, it’s still considered a legal drug in many areas of the U.S.
• When Mazatec Indians used salvia for their healing rituals, the plant provided an altered state of consciousness.
• These effects may occur rapidly, within just 5 to 10 minutes of smoking or inhaling the drug.

Is frequent use of salvia linked to potential health risks?

She also works with individuals facing self-esteem issues and anxiety using a trauma-informed approach. In India, stigma around mental health often prevents people from seeking help. Culturally sensitive approaches and family involvement are critical in creating a supportive recovery environment. Seeking help is a courageous step toward recovery and a healthier future. Because salvia isn’t controlled by the Controlled Substances Act, individual states have to decide whether or not salvia use is allowed.

Effects

If you or someone you care about is struggling with salvia use, it’s essential to seek professional support. At 12 South Recovery, we specialize in addressing substance use disorders, including those involving hallucinogenic drugs. Our team offers personalized treatment plans that focus on mental health, behavioral therapy, and long-term recovery. In the indigenous use of Salvia, leaf juices are extracted from the fresh leaves of the Salvia plant and mixed with water to create an infusion that is taken orally.

Salvia is a plant with powerful hallucinogenic properties that is commonly recreationally abused and can cause dangerous side effects. If you use salvia or have considered trying it, it’s a good idea to know what the drug is, what the potential risks are, and what you can expect when you take it. Residential treatment centers provide 24/7 therapy for drug addiction and alcoholism. First, have a medical and psychological checkup, then engage with specialists to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses all your difficulties. Others wrap fresh or dried stems or leaves in tobacco sheets and smoke them gently. Again, although the research isn’t totally clear at this point, reports suggest that when it comes to the addictive qualities of salvia, and salvinorin A, it doesn’t appear to be a threat.

Addiction Potential

LSD can be taken by mouth or injected in the veins, and the effects last much longer (about 12 to 24 hours). Salvia, scientifically known as Salvia divinorum, is a plant native to the cloud forests of southern Mexico. Traditionally, the Mazatec Indigenous people used it in spiritual rituals, believing the plant could facilitate divine insight and healing. Unlike other hallucinogens, salvia contains salvinorin A, which interacts with the brain’s kappa opioid receptors, triggering intense, short-lived hallucinations.

Although not as many teens and young adults have been using salvia in the past, its availability is still attractive to those not old enough to get other legal or illegal substances. You will also gain a better understanding of why it is believed to be dangerous, along with measures you can take to avoid potential addiction. Our patient, a man in his thirties, purchased Salvia through a website on the Internet, where it was sold as ‘plant food’ and in packets labelled according to four ‘strengths’ – 0, 5, 10 and 20.

Helping families and individuals worldwide find hope from addiction and mental illness. Although an extremely rare event, Salvia toxicity may occur in subsets of patients especially those with psychiatric disorders (e.g. pica) and evoke different manifestations including abdominal or cardiac abnormalities. In conclusion, the present case highlighted possible pharmacological effects related to an excessive intake of S. Officinalis with many constituents of this plant exhibiting prominent anti-AChE effects. Salvia has been tested as possible therapeutic compound in several conditions, e.g. Animal and human studies confirmed that thujone can exert neurotoxic effects interacting with the γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor, thus causing excitation and convulsions in a dose-dependent manner.

Most people use a bong, a water pipe for smoking marijuana, to inhale crystalline salvia via a glass tube. The plant has a three-foot-tall shrub with enormous green leaves, square hollow stalks, and white blooms. Salvinorin, a hallucinogenic entheogen also referred to as a neoclerodane diterpene, is the main component of Salvia divinorum. Furthermore, you require at least 200 and 600 micrograms of salvinorin, primarily present in the plant’s leaves, to produce different consciousness states.