Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/CC0Also known as: Diviner's Sage, Magic Mint, Maria Pastora, Sally-D, Seer's Sage, and Shepherdess's Herb
Salvia (Salvia divinorum) is an herb in the mint family found in southern Mexico. The main active ingredient in salvia, salvinorin A, changes the chemistry in the brain, causing hallucinations (seeing something that seems real but isn’t). The effects are short lived, but may be very intense and frightening.
Although salvia is not illegal according to Federal law, several states and countries have passed laws to regulate its use. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists salvia as a drug of concern that poses risk to people who use it.
How Salvia is Used
Usually, people chew fresh S. divinorum leaves or drink their extracted juices. The dried leaves of S. divinorum also can be smoked in rolled cigarettes, inhaled through water pipes (hookahs), or vaporized and inhaled.
Researchers are studying salvia to learn exactly how it acts in the brain to produce its effects. What is currently known is that salvinorin A, the main active ingredient in salvia, attaches to parts of nerve cells called kappa opioid receptors. (Note: These receptors are different from the ones involved with opioid drugs, such as heroin and morphine.)
The effects of salvinorin A are described as intense but short lived, generally lasting for less than 30 minutes. People who use salvia generally have hallucinations—they see or feel things that aren’t really there. They also have changes in vision, mood and body sensations, emotional swings, and feelings of detachment (disconnected from their environment). There are reports of people losing contact with reality—being unable to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not. Many of these effects raise concern about the dangers of driving under the influence of salvia.
Learn more about how the brain works and what happens when a person uses drugs.
Physical and other effects of saliva use have not been fully studied. There have been reports that the drug causes loss of coordination, dizziness, and slurred speech.
It is not clear if there have been any deaths associated with salvia. However, because we do not know all of salvia’s effects, it is a drug that authorities are watching carefully.
We don’t know the long-term effects of using the drug. However, recent studies with animals showed that salvia harms learning and memory.
It’s not clear if using salvia leads to addiction. More studies are needed to learn whether it has addictive properties.
Below is a chart showing the percentage of teens who use salvia.
Swipe left or right to scroll.
| Drug | Time Period | 8th Graders | 10th Graders | 12th Graders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salvia | Past Year | 0.60 | 0.70 | 0.90 |
For more statistics on teen drug use, see NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study.
If you, or a friend, are in crisis and need to speak with someone now:
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (they don't just talk about suicide—they cover a lot of issues and will help put you in touch with someone close by)
If you want to help a friend, you can:
- Share resources from this site, including this page.
- Point your friend to NIDA's Step by Step Guide for Teens and Young Adults.
- Encourage your friend to speak with a trusted adult.
If a friend is using drugs, you might have to step away from the friendship for a while. It is important to protect your own mental health and not put yourself in situations where drugs are being used.
For more information on how to help a friend or loved one, visit our Have a Drug Problem, Need Help? page.
Drug Facts
NIDA Resources:
Statistics and Trends
NIDA Resources:
Other Resources:
- Monitoring the Future [Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan)]
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]
Publications
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Hallucinogens
Provides basic facts about various hallucinogens, including how they are abused, how they affect the brain, and other health effects.
Chat Day Transcripts
Infographics
Drug and Alcohol Use in College-Age Adults in 2015
Monitoring the Future 2015 Survey Results
Cite this article
The National Institute on Drug Abuse Blog Team. (). Salvia. Retrieved from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/salvia on
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