Salvia divinorum: An overview of the usage, misuse, and addiction processes.
Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists March 1, 2016 Rathi Mahendran, Haikel A Lim, Joyce Y S Tan et al.
Salvia divinorum, a plant used for centuries in South American religious rituals, has become popular among adolescents and young adults as a readily available 'legal high' purchased online. Its main active compound, Salvinorin A, is a potent κ-opioid agonist. Although the short- and long-term effects are not well-studied, it is widely believed to have low addictive potential and low toxicity. However, recent findings suggest that Salvinorin A can precipitate psychiatric symptoms and negatively affect cognition. Its increasing use requires clinicians to be aware of its effects.