Health care professionals can help build a personalized recovery plan based on the individual’s needs, medical background, and support network. Environmental factors like unstable home environments or access to other substances can make things worse. Those who start with salvia may eventually face long term effects related to other drug use or psychological damage.

  • Family members are often the first to notice signs of abuse and can encourage early intervention.
  • These findings include anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antidementia, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects.
  • In recent years, this plant has been a subject of intensive studies to document its traditional use and to find new biological effects.
  • The lack of regulation, the variability in potency, and the high potential for psychological distress make it a substance that demands greater caution and understanding.
  • The legal status of salvia varies widely depending on where you are.

However, many states have taken steps to regulate or ban its sale and use, classifying it alongside more well-known hallucinogens. For example, states like California, Florida, and New York have made salvia illegal to possess or sell, while others have age restrictions or require it to be sold with warnings about its effects. While not physically addictive, salvia can lead to psychological dependence in some individuals, especially those seeking repeated hallucinogenic experiences. Some seek salvia as a “legal high” alternative to more tightly controlled substances like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms. However, its unpredictable effects and the rapid onset of hallucinations can result in dangerous situations, especially when consumed without proper knowledge or supervision.

Types of Drugs

  • Because of its hallucinogenic effects, it has been referred to as “the diviner’s sage.” Additionally, the mind-altering effects of salvia have sparked its cultivation in the United States, Australia, and Europe.
  • And the same goes for LSD, a hallucinogen that is most often compared with S.
  • This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site.
  • During ceremonies, indigenous shamans chewed the fresh leaves or brewed them into teas.

“Salvia simulation” videos and written trip reports often circulate online, providing insight into the plant’s effects. These portrayals—whether exaggerated or authentic—tend salvia drug overview to describe experiences that are vastly different from those caused by more well-known hallucinogens like LSD or psilocybin. Some salvia users may experience fear or anxiety about having a “bad trip” while using the drug. A bad trip may include disturbing sensations, thoughts, or hallucinations.

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General Health

Salvia is a psychoactive plant that comes from the cloud forests of southern Mexico. It’s part of the mint family, but its effects are way more intense than anything you’d find in your spice cabinet. Traditionally, the Mazatec people used salvia in spiritual ceremonies to spark visions and deep reflection. The plant’s active ingredient, salvinorin A, is one of the most potent natural hallucinogens out there. People typically smoke it, chew the leaves, or vaporize the extract, leading to short but vivid and often strange hallucinations.

Divinorum has been used both for religious and medical purposes. However, in 2019, an analogue of its active component called Salvinorin A or SA (a diterpene with potent hallucinogenic properties and short-lasting effects) has been discovered. This analogue has the ability to reduce inflammation and induce analgesia that lasts relatively longer. And on top of that, it leaves out the hallucinatory component of the Salvia drug itself. Officinalis are able to decrease blood glucose in normal and diabetic conditions.95, 96, 97, 98, 99 The mechanisms suggested for hypoglycemic effect of S.

Individualized Treatment

Again, one cannot say for certain if the Salvia drug is addictive as there are currently not enough studies and research to prove it, but evidence suggests that some hallucinogenic drugs can be addictive. A naturally occurring plant, Salvia Divinorum is traditionally used for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Salvia divinorum, or salvia for short, is an herb in the mint family often used for its hallucinogenic effects. While salvia may not be among the most commonly treated substances in addiction care, its use can reflect broader patterns of experimentation, psychological distress, or self-medication.

Addiction Treatment Saves Lives—Let’s Not Undermine It

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. What makes salvia unique among plants is the presence of a naturally occurring chemical compound called salvinorin A.

When it comes to addiction, salvia doesn’t seem to have the same potential as other drugs like opioids, alcohol, or even marijuana. Most people who use salvia don’t report cravings or a compulsion to use it repeatedly. In fact, many users describe the experience as so intense or unsettling that they don’t want to do it again.

FAQs About Salvia Divinorum, Its Effects, and Legal Status

Addiction Resource team has compiled an extensive list of the top drug rehabilitation facilities around the country. Founded in 2014, Addiction Resource provides free support and guidance for addiction recovery. Currently, salvia isn’t approved for any medical use in the United States. It’s also not controlled under Congress’s Controlled Substances Act. That means individual state laws apply to salvia but no federal ones. The plant has traditionally been propagated through cuttings rather than seeds, and for centuries, it was used in Mazatec spiritual ceremonies for divination and healing.

Salvia Addiction: Discussing Salvia’s History And Properties

Users are drawn to its intense hallucinogenic effects, often referred to as “visions” or “trips.” People typically smoke the dried salvia leaves, vaporize the concentrated extracts, or consume it sublingually as a tincture. While it may not cause physical dependence, salvia often leads users to try stronger illegal drugs. This behavior increases the risk of drug abuse and addiction, particularly in young people exploring drug use. Unlike other common types of drug, salvia isn’t classified under the federal Controlled Substances Act, although many states have passed laws restricting its use. This patchwork of legality contributes to salvia abuse among those seeking accessible psychoactive experiences. If you have a predisposition to mental health conditions, abusing salvia could trigger symptoms to arise.

Divinorum has been used for a long time by the Mazatec Indians for the treatment of various illnesses and conditions, divination, and spiritual healing, among others. Its hallucinogenic properties, however, have made the substance popular in current times as a recreational drug. Its intense psychedelic effects make it appealing to both adolescents and young adults, and many of them use the drug as an alternative to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), a classical hallucinogen. Our holistic treatment programs include therapies, medical treatment, support, and mental health care to help you put substance abuse in your past. Take the first step of your recovery journey by contacting us today. Nova Recovery Center is a trusted drug and alcohol rehab facility offering personalized treatment programs across the United States.