Adolescent salvia substance abuse.

Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogen popular among adolescents, typically produces short-lived effects like depersonalization and levitation that resolve within 30 minutes. However, a case of a 15-year-old user with a history of salvia and marijuana use showed prolonged mental status changes lasting three days, including paranoia, déjà vu, blunted affect, thought blocking, and slow speech. The authors suggest that salvia may be associated with undocumented long-term effects such as persistent déjà vu, highlighting the need for more research into its clinical effects, especially given its easy availability online in the United States.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Salvia divinorum is a non-water-soluble hallucinogen that is becoming increasingly popular among adolescents. Salvia is a highly selective full agonist of primate and cloned human cerebral kappa-opioid receptors, although its psychotomimetic effects are similar to serotonergic agonists and NMDA glutamate antagonists. Salvia has been associated with depersonalization, laughter, feelings of levitation and self-consciousness. These effects resolve within 30 minutes following use. Salvia has been banned in many countries, although it remains legal and easily assessable over the internet in the United States. A 15-year-old man with a history of salvia and marijuana use presented to psychiatric emergency services with acute onset of mental status changes characterized by paranoia, déjà vu, blunted affect, thought blocking and slow speech of 3 days' duration. There is limited literature discussing the clinical effects of salvia use. Based on this case presentation, salvia use may be associated with many undocumented long-term effects such as déjà vu. The ease of use and increasing popularity of salvia requires further investigation into the clinical effects of salvia use.