Smoking Salvia, Use, Effects, Risks, and More

Is Smoking Salvia Bad for You?

Salvia divinorum has recently emerged as a trendy hallucinogenic herb due to its powerful effects. Smoking salvia can have several effects on the mind and the body, some of which can be harmful. The active component of salvia, known as salvinorin A, can induce severe hallucinations, shifts in perception, and altered states of consciousness. These after effects can potentially bring about mishaps, injuries, and other perilous scenarios. In addition, inhaling smoke containing salvia can hurt mental health and make preexisting conditions, such as anxiety or depression, worse. Last but not least, the long-term effects of using salvia are not fully understood and require additional research.

What is Smoking Salvia?

The act of Salvia smoking entails the inhalation of smoke derived from dehydrated leaves of the Salvia divinorum botanical species. This substance can elicit hallucinations and modify an individual’s cognitive state, producing heightened sensory experiences and vivid imagery. Smoking Salvia’s legal status varies depending on the jurisdiction, with some regions permitting its use while others categorize it as a Schedule I controlled substance. This classification is due to the plant’s potential for addiction and abuse.

Is Salvia Drug Legal?

Salvia divinorum, the plant from which the drug salvia is derived, has different legal standing depending on the nation and state. Salvias smoking is not federally regulated in the United States, but it is classified as a Schedule I drug in some states, making it unlawful to own, sell, or use. Different levels of regulation exist in other states, such as prohibitions on sales to minors or demands for warning labels. Salvias smoking is prohibited in a few nations, including Australia and several European nations. Before smoking salvia, make sure you comply with local laws.

Salvia Smoking Symptoms

Salvia Symptoms

Salvia can manifest in various ways, with various physical and psychological symptoms. Some of the common symptoms of smoking Salvia include:

• Distorted sense of time and reality.
• Delusions and hallucinations.
• Disorientation and confusion.
• Agitation and anxiety.
• Depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Loss of coordination and balance.
• Memory loss and cognitive impairment.
• Insomnia and sleep disturbances.
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Sweating and chills.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Learn More:

• Detox Rehab
• Hallucinogens

1.4 million

An estimated 1.4 million people in the U.S. have used Salvia Divinorum at least once in their lifetime.

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health

1,113

The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 1,113 cases of Salvia exposure in the U.S. in 2019, with the majority of cases involving individuals between the ages of 13 and 29.

Source: American Association of Poison Control Centers

Smoking Salvia divinorum Effects

Strong hallucinations and significant psychological effects are associated with smoking Salvia plants. After smoking salvia, the effects usually appear within seconds to a few minutes, lasting between 30 and an hour. Depending on the dosage, application technique, and user’s emotional and physical state, salvia’s effects can change.

The most frequent side effects of Salvia smoking are intense and vivid visual and auditory hallucinations, shifts in reality perception, distorted thoughts, altered perceptions of time and space, and loss of control over one’s body. Additionally, some users have mentioned feeling detached from reality, euphoric, and out-of-body experiences. Salvia smoking does have some undesirable side effects, though, such as dysphoria, confusion, paranoia, fear, and anxiety. Smoking Salvia occasionally causes nausea, chills, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.

• Visual and auditory hallucinations.
• Changes in perception of time, space, and reality.
• Feelings of detachment from reality.
• Intense, uncontrollable laughter.
• Loss of coordination and balance.

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Sweating.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Anxiety and paranoia.
• Confusion and disorientation.

Long Term Effects of Salvia Smoking

Although there is little information on smoking salvias long-term effects, some studies have found that frequent smoking salvias may have some unfavorable effects. For instance, prolonged salvia use may result in persistent mood and perceptual changes as well as memory and attention deficits.

According to one study, salvia smoking users reported ongoing perceptual changes, such as visual disturbances, even when abstaining from the drug. According to another study, salvia smokers outperformed non-users on memory and attention tests.

Additionally, some people who smoke salvia may experience psychological distress and other negative effects, especially if they already have mental health issues. There have also been accounts of people smoking salvia and having flashbacks and other lingering symptoms.

Smoking salvia can be highly addictive due to its intense euphoric sensations. Overcoming addiction requires appropriate intervention, such as detoxification, under medical supervision to manage withdrawal symptoms. After detox, addressing underlying psychological and behavioral factors is crucial through therapy and other interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and contingency management. Emotional support and ongoing treatment are necessary to maintain sobriety and prevent relapse.

Following detoxification, it is imperative to pursue further treatment that targets the fundamental psychological, behavioral, and social elements contributing to salvia’s abuse. Behavioral interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and contingency management (CM), are potential treatment options. Seeking aid from a qualified expert and receiving emotional reinforcement is crucial in sustaining abstinence in the long run and preventing relapse.