Salvia divinorum: exposures reported to a statewide poison control system over 10 years.
Rais Vohra, Andrew Seefeld, F Lee Cantrell, Richard F Clark
The Journal of emergency medicine June 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2009.05.019 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSalvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic herb marketed as a legal alternative to other drugs, has become popular among teenagers and young adults. A retrospective review of 37 exposures to S. divinorum reported to a poison control system over 10 years found that intentional use caused neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. Use with other substances was associated with a high rate of complications and psychomotor disturbances. The findings help characterize the clinical toxicity of this emerging substance, but more research is needed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Retrospective review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Population | Exposures to Salvia divinorum reported to the California Poison Control System |
| Duration | 10 years |
| Keywords | Substance abuse Recreational abuse Intentional use Drug abuse Hallucinogen abuse |
| Citations | 45 |
| Key finding | Intentional use of Salvia divinorum, alone or with other substances, causes neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects, and concomitant substance use is associated with high rates of complications and psychomotor disturbances. |
Abstract
Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic herb, has in recent years become popular among teenagers and young adults. Salvia is presently marketed as a "legal" alternative to other drugs of abuse, but little is known about the clinical toxicity of this substance. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and demographic features of this emerging substance of recreational abuse using data obtained from the records of a poison control center. We performed retrospective review of exposures to the herbal hallucinogen Salvia divinorum as reported to the California Poison Control System (CPCS) over the last 10 years. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compiled from the computerized records of the CPCS for the search terms "salvia" and "sage." There were 37 exposures to S. divinorum and 96 exposures to non-hallucinogenic Salvia species. Eighteen (49%) of the exposures were to S. divinorum alone. Intentional Salvia exposures resulted in a variety of neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. Notably, the use of concomitant substances of abuse was associated with a high rate of complications and psychomotor disturbances. Intentional use of S. divinorum, whether alone or in combination with alcoholic beverages and other drugs, causes neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. This poison-center-based review helps to characterize the clinical toxicity of S. divinorum, but more clinical and pharmacologic research is warranted for this rapidly emerging substance of abuse.